Intake of niacin, folate, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 through young adulthood and cognitive function in midlife: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition 2017-10, Vol.106 (4), p.1032-1040
• Main Authors: Qin, Bo, Xun, Pengcheng, Jacobs, David R, Zhu, Na, Daviglus, Martha L, Reis, Jared P, Steffen, Lyn M, Van Horn, Linda, Sidney, Stephen, He, Ka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Age Factors; Alzheimer Disease - etiology; Alzheimer Disease - prevention & control; Auditory discrimination learning; Cardiovascular disease; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognition - drug effects; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognition Disorders - prevention & control; Cognitive ability; Cohort Studies; Coronary artery; Diet; Dietary intake; Dietary Supplements; Digits; Epidemiology; Executive Function; Female; Folic acid; Folic Acid - administration & dosage; Folic Acid - pharmacology; Humans; Interference; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Memory; Middle age; Middle Aged; Niacin - administration & dosage; Niacin - pharmacology; Psychomotor Performance; Verbal Learning; Vitamin B; Vitamin B 12 - administration & dosage; Vitamin B 12 - pharmacology; Vitamin B 6 - administration & dosage; Vitamin B 6 - pharmacology; Vitamin B Complex - administration & dosage; Vitamin B Complex - pharmacology; Vitamin B Deficiency - etiology; Vitamin B Deficiency - prevention & control; Vitamins; Vitamins, Minerals, and Phytochemicals; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.117.157834

Abstract Background: Epidemiologic evidence regarding niacin, folate, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 intake in relation to cognitive function is limited, especially in midlife. Objective: We hypothesize that higher intake of these B vitamins in young adulthood is associated with better cognition later in life. Design: This study comprised a community-based multicenter cohort of black and white men and women aged 18–30 y in 1985–1986 (year 0, i.e., baseline) from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study (n = 3136). We examined participants’ CARDIA diet history at years 0, 7, and 20 to assess nutrient intake, including dietary and supplemental B vitamins. We measured cognitive function at year 25 (mean ± SD age: 50 ± 4 y) through the use of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) for verbal memory, the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) for psychomotor speed, and a modified Stroop interference test for executive function. Higher RAVLT and DSST scores and a lower Stroop score indicated better cognitive function. We used multivariable-adjusted linear regressions to estimate mean differences in cognitive scores and 95% CIs. Results: Comparing the highest quintile with the lowest (quintile 5 compared with quintile 1), cumulative total intake of niacin was significantly associated with 3.92 more digits on the DSST (95% CI: 2.28, 5.55; P-trend < 0.01) and 1.89 points lower interference score on the Stroop test (95% CI: −3.10, −0.68; P-trend = 0.05). Total folate was associated with 2.56 more digits on the DSST (95% CI: 0.82, 4.31; P-trend = 0.01). We also found that higher intakes of vitamin B-6 (quartile 5 compared with quartile 1: 2.62; 95% CI: 0.97, 4.28; P-trend = 0.02) and vitamin B-12 (quartile 5 compared with quartile 1: 2.08; 95% CI: 0.52, 3.65; P-trend = 0.02) resulted in better psychomotor speed measured by DSST scores. Conclusion: Higher intake of B vitamins throughout young adulthood was associated with better cognitive function in midlife.