Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2019 Aug;63(15):e1801059. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201801059. Epub 2019 Mar 20.
Macular accumulation of xanthophyll carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin) is known to have neuroprotective potential, yet their influence on cognition among overweight adults and those with obesity remains limited. This study examines the impact of macular xanthophylls on attentional resource allocation and information processing speed among adults with BMI ≥ 25 kg m .
Adults between 25 and 45 years (N = 101) complete heterochromatic flicker photometry to determine macular pigment optical density (MPOD). Event-related brain potentials are recorded during a visual oddball task. Amplitude and latency of the N2 and P3 indexed attentional resource allocation and information processing speed. Covariates included age, sex, education, intelligence quotient (IQ), %Fat (DXA), and dietary lutein and zeaxanthin (Diet History Questionnaire II). MPOD is inversely related to P3 peak amplitude during standard trials and P3 peak latency during target trials. Therefore, individuals with higher MPOD dedicate fewer attentional resources when attentional demands are low while exhibiting faster information processing speed when attentional demands are increased. Further, MPOD is inversely related to the N2 mean amplitude during targets, signifying greater inhibitory control.
These findings are the first to link macular xanthophylls to neuroelectric indices of attentional and inhibitory control among adults with overweight and obesity.
黄斑叶黄素类胡萝卜素（叶黄素、玉米黄质）的积累具有神经保护潜力，但它们对超重成年人和肥胖人群认知的影响仍有限。本研究考察了黄斑叶黄素对 BMI≥25kg/m2的成年人注意力资源分配和信息处理速度的影响。
25 至 45 岁的成年人（N=101）完成对比闪光光度计以确定黄斑色素光密度（MPOD）。在视觉Oddball 任务中记录事件相关脑电位。N2 和 P3 的振幅和潜伏期用于评估注意力资源分配和信息处理速度。协变量包括年龄、性别、教育程度、智商（IQ）、体脂肪百分比（DXA）以及饮食中叶黄素和玉米黄质（饮食史问卷 II）。MPOD 与标准试验中的 P3 波峰振幅和目标试验中的 P3 波峰潜伏期呈负相关。因此，当注意力需求较低时，具有较高 MPOD 的个体分配较少的注意力资源，而当注意力需求增加时，表现出更快的信息处理速度。此外，MPOD 与目标刺激时的 N2 平均振幅呈负相关，表明抑制控制能力更强。
这些发现首次将黄斑叶黄素与超重和肥胖成年人的注意力和抑制控制的神经电指数联系起来。
