ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Environmental, life-style, and dietary factors, including the type of dietary fatty acids consumed, may influence the onset of dementia. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine whether type of dietary fats consumed is associated with cognitive performance. METHODS: Using gaschromatography, plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition was determined in a sample of subjects (age > or = 65 years) randomly selected from the general Pro.V.A. study population. Plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition is a reliable marker of the type of fats present in the diet. The subjects' cognitive capacity was tested using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). RESULTS: At multiple regression analysis, the MMSE score variance was correlated with age and education level In 30% of cases, whereas the other variables considered (including type of fatty acids consumed) had an almost negligible effect. CONCLUSIONS: In free-living elderly subjects, moderate to severe cognitive impairment is not associated with dietary fatty acids.
Subject(s)
Cognition Disorders/epidemiology , Cognition Disorders/physiopathology , Dietary Fats/administration & dosage , Phospholipids/blood , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cognition Disorders/blood , Female , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Life Style , Male , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Random Allocation , Regression Analysis , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide indicating that life-style habits are important determinants for this disease. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dietary fats on insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients. METHODS: In a randomly selected sample of population aged 65 and older, plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition was determined by gaschromatography. The plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition is a reliable marker of the type of fats present in the diet. Insulin resistance was estimated with the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA). RESULTS: Body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, serum cholesterol as well as fasting insulin, and the HOMA index were lower in the older groups. With increasing age, there was an increase in the monounsaturated fatty acid content and a decrease in the polyunsaturated and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the linear regression analysis, saturated fatty acids were significantly related to waist circumference, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA. Significant relations were also obserued between HOMA and BMI, triglycerides, waist circumference, and age. Triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were strongly interrelated as well as BMI and waist circumference. In the multiple regression analysis including age, BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and saturated fatty acids, the HOMA index was predicted significantly only by age, BMI, and triglycerides. This model explained 28% of the HOMA variance. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly diabetic patients insulin sensitivity is modulated by age, BMI, and triglycerides, but the type of dietary fats is not independently associated with insulin sensitivity.
