Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Dec 1;114(6):2097-2106. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab289.
Effects of soy foods on cerebral blood flow (CBF)-a marker of cerebrovascular function-may contribute to the beneficial effects of plant-based diets on cognitive performance.
We aimed to investigate longer-term effects of soy nut consumption on CBF in older adults. Changes in 3 different domains of cognitive performance were also studied.
Twenty-three healthy participants (age: 60-70 y; BMI: 20-30 kg/m2) participated in a randomized, controlled, single-blinded crossover trial with an intervention (67 g/d of soy nuts providing ∼25.5 g protein and 174 mg isoflavones) and control period (no nuts) of 16 wk, separated by an 8-wk washout period. Adults followed the Dutch food-based dietary guidelines. At the end of each period, CBF was assessed with arterial spin labeling MRI. Psychomotor speed, executive function, and memory were assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).
No serious adverse events were reported, and soy nut intake was well tolerated. Body weights remained stable during the study. Serum isoflavone concentrations increased (daidzein mean difference ± SD: 128 ± 113 ng/mL, P < 0.001; genistein: 454 ± 256 ng/mL, P < 0.001), indicating excellent compliance. Regional CBF increased in 4 brain clusters located in the left occipital and temporal lobes (mean ± SD increase: 11.1 ± 12.4 mL · 100 g-1 · min-1, volume: 11,296 mm3, P < 0.001), bilateral occipital lobe (12.1 ± 15.0 mL · 100 g-1 · min-1, volume: 2632 mm3, P = 0.002), right occipital and parietal lobes (12.7 ± 14.3 mL · 100 g-1 · min-1, volume: 2280 mm3, P = 0.005), and left frontal lobe (12.4 ± 14.5 mL · 100 g-1 · min-1, volume: 2120 mm3, P = 0.009) which is part of the ventral network. These 4 regions are involved in psychomotor speed performance, which improved as the movement time reduced by (mean ± SD) 20 ± 37 ms (P = 0.005). Executive function and memory did not change.
Longer-term soy nut consumption may improve cerebrovascular function of older adults, because regional CBF increased. Effects may underlie observed improvements in psychomotor speed.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03627637.
大豆食品对脑血流（CBF）的影响——脑血管功能的一个标志物——可能有助于植物性饮食对认知表现的有益影响。
我们旨在研究大豆坚果摄入对老年人 CBF 的更长期影响。还研究了认知表现的 3 个不同领域的变化。
23 名健康参与者（年龄：60-70 岁；BMI：20-30 kg/m2）参加了一项随机、对照、单盲交叉试验，干预组（每天 67 克大豆坚果，提供约 25.5 克蛋白质和 174 毫克异黄酮）和对照组（无坚果）为 16 周，间隔 8 周洗脱期。成年人遵循荷兰基于食物的饮食指南。在每个时期结束时，使用动脉自旋标记 MRI 评估 CBF。使用剑桥神经心理学测试自动化电池（CANTAB）评估精神运动速度、执行功能和记忆。
未报告严重不良事件，且大豆坚果摄入被很好地耐受。研究期间体重保持稳定。血清异黄酮浓度升高（大豆苷元平均差异 ± 标准差：128 ± 113ng/mL，P<0.001；染料木素：454 ± 256ng/mL，P<0.001），表明良好的依从性。4 个位于左侧枕叶和颞叶的脑区 CBF 增加（平均 ± 标准差增加：11.1 ± 12.4mL·100g-1·min-1，体积：11296mm3，P<0.001），双侧枕叶（12.1 ± 15.0mL·100g-1·min-1，体积：2632mm3，P=0.002），右侧枕叶和顶叶（12.7 ± 14.3mL·100g-1·min-1，体积：2280mm3，P=0.005）和左侧额叶（12.4 ± 14.5mL·100g-1·min-1，体积：2120mm3，P=0.009），这是腹侧网络的一部分。这 4 个区域与精神运动速度表现有关，运动时间减少（平均 ± 标准差）20 ± 37ms（P=0.005），这表明表现有所改善。执行功能和记忆力没有变化。
长期食用大豆坚果可能会改善老年人的脑血管功能，因为区域性 CBF 增加了。这些影响可能是观察到精神运动速度改善的基础。该试验在 clinicaltrials.gov 上注册为 NCT03627637。
