THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MACRONUTRIENT ENERGY SUPPLY RATIO AND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN CHINESE MIDDLE-AGED AND ELDERLY ADULTS

HOU Wan-ying; SUN Chang-hao

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Acta Nutrimenta Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (3) : 216-222.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MACRONUTRIENT ENERGY SUPPLY RATIO AND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN CHINESE MIDDLE-AGED AND ELDERLY ADULTS

HOU Wan-ying, SUN Chang-hao

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Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between dietary macronutrient energy supply ratio and cognitive decline, so as to provide a scientific basis for dietary guidance for cognitive decline prevention in Chinese middle-aged and elderly adults. Methods Based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) database from 1997 to 2006, adults aged 55-89 years who had completed at least one cognitive function test were included through multistage stratified cluster random sampling method. Individuals with abnormal energy intake were excluded. The dietary energy intake, carbohydrate energy ratio, fat energy ratio, and protein energy ratio were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between the macronutrient energy supply ratio and cognitive decline. Additionally, the relationship between macronutrient energy supply ratio and cognitive decline was further examined using limiting restricted cubic spline (RCS). Results A total of 10,689 participants were included in this study. After adjusting for covariates, those with higher carbohydrates to energy ratios (carbohydrate%E) had a higher risk of cognitive decline than those with lower carbohydrate%E (OR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.03-1.94). The risk of cognitive decline was lowest in the population with moderate fat to energy ratio (fat%E) (OR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-0.99). People with higher protein to energy ratios(protein%E) had a lower risk of cognitive decline (OR=0.75, 95% CI: 0.63-0.89). The results in the RCS curves showed that there was a linear relationship between carbohydrate%E or protein%E and cognitive decline (P non-linear>0.05), and a nonlinear relationship between fat%E and cognitive decline (P non-linear <0.05). The risk of cognitive decline was the lowest in the subjects when fat%E was 34.65%. Conclusion In the middle-aged and elderly adults of CHNS, carbohydrate%E is related to higher risk of cognitive decline, and protein%E is related to lower risk of cognitive decline. A high-fat diet with a fat energy ratio of 34.65% is related to the lowest risk of cognitive decline.

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macronutrients / energy supply ratio / cognitive function / middle-aged and elderly adults

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HOU Wan-ying, SUN Chang-hao. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MACRONUTRIENT ENERGY SUPPLY RATIO AND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN CHINESE MIDDLE-AGED AND ELDERLY ADULTS[J]. Acta Nutrimenta Sinica. 2025, 47(3): 216-222

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