Macular pigment optical density is positively associated with academic performance among preadolescent children

Barnett, Sasha M.; Khan, Naiman A.; Walk, Anne M.; Raine, Lauren B.; Moulton, Christopher J.; Cohen, Neal J.; Kramer, Arthur F.; Hammond, Billy R.; Renzi-Hammond, Lisa; Hillman, Charles H.

doi:10.1080/1028415x.2017.1329976

Cited by 39 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Macular pigment is widely believed to protect macular photoreceptors from short-wavelength blue light and oxidative damage (1,4). Recent research has increasingly implied that lutein and zeaxanthin play a role in cognitive function in adults (5)(6)(7)(8)(9), and more recently in children (10,11). Both infant and adult human brain contains lutein and zeaxanthin at higher levels than those observed for other carotenoids found in human plasma (8,12).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Milk and Plasma Lutein and Zeaxanthin Concentrations in Chinese Breast-Feeding Mother–Infant Dyads With Healthy Maternal Fruit and Vegetable Intake*

Zhao

Berde

et al. 2018

Journal of the American College of Nutrition

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Milk and Plasma Lutein and Zeaxanthin Concentrations in Chinese Breast-Feeding Mother–Infant Dyads With Healthy Maternal Fruit and Vegetable Intake*

Zhao

Berde

et al. 2018

Journal of the American College of Nutrition

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“…Given that the focus of the current work was on diet quality, it is difficult to isolate the particular nutrients that may confer the cognitive benefits. However, several of the food groups and nutrients that would be more prevalent in component 1 have been previously shown to positively impact cognitive health including saturated fatty acids (48), dietary fiber (17) and carotenoids from vegetables and other plant foods (49)(50)(51), and proteins and vitamin D to name only a few (52). Thus, future experimental work is needed to confirm whether consuming a diet pattern rich in these diet quality components would be beneficial for children's cognitive function in a prospective manner.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visceral Adiposity and Diet Quality Are Differentially Associated With Cognitive Abilities and Early Academic Skills Among Preschool-Age Children

et al. 2020

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Background: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and diet quality influence cognitive health in preadolescents; however, these relationships remain understudied among preschool-age children.Objectives: Investigate the relationship between VAT, diet quality, academic skills, and cognitive abilities among preschool-age children.Methods: Children between 4 and 5 years (N = 57) were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Woodcock Johnson Early Cognitive and Academic Development Test (ECAD TM ) was utilized to assess General Intellectual Ability, Early Academic Skills, and Expressive Language. DXA was used to assess VAT. Diet quality was measured using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) based on 7-day food records.Results: Greater VAT was associated with poorer Early Academic Skills (r = −0.28, P = 0.03) whereas a diet pattern that included Fatty Acids, Whole Grains, Saturated Fats, Seafood and Plant Proteins, Total Vegetables, and Dairy was positively associated with General Intellectual Ability (r = 0.26, P = 0.04). Conclusions:Higher VAT is negatively related to Early Academic Skills whereas diet quality was positively and selectively related to intellectual abilities among preschool-age children. These findings indicate that the negative impact of abdominal adiposity on academic skills is evident as early as preschool-age while providing preliminary support for the potentially beneficial role of diet quality on cognitive abilities in early childhood.

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“…The brain, like the retina, actively accumulates xanthophylls, especially, L . A number of recent studies have shown that lutein status (i.e., measured in serum/diet and directly in retina, MP) correlates with a number of centrally‐mediated functions including numerous aspects of cognition . In addition, recent imaging studies also suggest a relationship between lutein and CNS functioning …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Carotenoids Lutein and Zeaxanthin Change Brain Activation in Older Adult Participants: A Randomized, Double‐Masked, Placebo‐Controlled Trial

Ceravolo

Hammond

Oliver

et al. 2019

Molecular Nutrition Food Res

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Scope Steady‐state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) can be used to test the topological response of cortical neurons. Studies have shown that a lutein (L) preferentially accumulates within cortical tissue. L, zeaxanthin (Z), and their isomers can be measured directly in retina (macular pigment optical density, MPOD), and retinal L+Z correlate highly with L+Z levels in cortical visual processing areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between MPOD and SSVEP signal power, cross‐sectionally and after supplementation with L+Z. Methods and Results SSVEP to three different driving frequencies of stimulation (5, 10, and 16.6 Hz) were obtained for community‐dwelling older adults, at baseline and after 12 months of supplementation with either 12 mg L+Z or placebo. Power was quantified at the driving frequencies. Non‐specific activation was quantified within the 10–15 Hz band. MPOD was measured psychophysically. Subjects with low MPOD had reduced power at 16.6 Hz and reduced non‐specific activation, compared with subjects with high MPOD. Supplementation significantly improved signal power at 5 and 10 Hz. Conclusion Past research suggests that L+Z can improve visual memory, visual processing speeds, etc. One possible mechanism for that improvement may be improving signal‐to‐noise ratio throughout the vision system.

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Macular pigment optical density is positively associated with academic performance among preadolescent children

Cited by 39 publications

References 41 publications

Milk and Plasma Lutein and Zeaxanthin Concentrations in Chinese Breast-Feeding Mother–Infant Dyads With Healthy Maternal Fruit and Vegetable Intake*

Milk and Plasma Lutein and Zeaxanthin Concentrations in Chinese Breast-Feeding Mother–Infant Dyads With Healthy Maternal Fruit and Vegetable Intake*

Visceral Adiposity and Diet Quality Are Differentially Associated With Cognitive Abilities and Early Academic Skills Among Preschool-Age Children

Dietary Carotenoids Lutein and Zeaxanthin Change Brain Activation in Older Adult Participants: A Randomized, Double‐Masked, Placebo‐Controlled Trial

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