Beijing study of 1,917 older adults links higher lecithin intake to better cognitive test scores

Researchers from Capital Medical University in Beijing and other Chinese centers found that older adults with higher dietary intake of lecithin had a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment and scored better on cognitive tests, PoradnikZdrowie.pl reports. The results were published in the Chinese Medical Journal poradnikzdrowie.plPoradnikZdrowie.plporadnikzdrowie.plOpen source ↗. The study included 1,917 older people who lived independently poradnikzdrowie.plPoradnikZdrowie.plporadnikzdrowie.plOpen source ↗.

Lecithin occurs naturally in the body and in many foods. According to the report, it plays a role in the structure and function of brain cells poradnikzdrowie.plPoradnikZdrowie.plporadnikzdrowie.plOpen source ↗.

Study design and main result

Lecithin intake was assessed with detailed dietary questionnaires. Cognitive function of each participant was measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a scale that evaluates thinking, memory and attention poradnikzdrowie.plPoradnikZdrowie.plporadnikzdrowie.plOpen source ↗.

The authors took into account age, sex, level of education and history of chronic diseases. After this adjustment, participants with higher lecithin intake had a significantly lower risk of mild cognitive impairment and achieved better results on the cognitive tests poradnikzdrowie.plPoradnikZdrowie.plporadnikzdrowie.plOpen source ↗.

Phosphatidylcholine and education level

Laboratory analyses added further data. People with mild cognitive impairment had a lower total level of phosphatidylcholine, a key component of lecithin. They also had a smaller share of its molecules containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and a larger share of molecules with saturated fatty acids poradnikzdrowie.plPoradnikZdrowie.plporadnikzdrowie.plOpen source ↗. The authors note that this suggests the quality of lecithin, and not only its amount, may matter poradnikzdrowie.plPoradnikZdrowie.plporadnikzdrowie.plOpen source ↗.

The positive association between lecithin intake and cognitive performance was stronger in participants with a lower level of education, meaning those who had completed only middle school or primary school. According to the experts cited, this may indicate that education affects the relationship between diet and cognitive function poradnikzdrowie.plPoradnikZdrowie.plporadnikzdrowie.plOpen source ↗.

The authors describe their work as epidemiological evidence that an adequate amount of lecithin in a balanced diet may support cognitive performance in older people poradnikzdrowie.plPoradnikZdrowie.plporadnikzdrowie.plOpen source ↗. They point to eggs and soy as rich and widely available sources of lecithin poradnikzdrowie.plPoradnikZdrowie.plporadnikzdrowie.plOpen source ↗.