López-Sobaler Ana M, Loria-Kohen Viviana, Salas-González María Dolores, Bermejo Laura M, Aparicio Aránzazu
Departamento de Nutrición y Ciencia de los Alimentos. Facultad de Farmacia. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Grupo de Investigación VALORNUT-UCM (920030). IdISSC.
Departamento de Nutrición y Ciencia de los Alimentos. Facultad de Farmacia. Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Nutr Hosp. 2024 Sep 23;41(Spec No3):24-27. doi: 10.20960/nh.05452.
Interest in the relationship between diet and cognitive function has increased in recent years. In this sense, eggs contain many essential nutrients that are also beneficial for cognitive function. Several studies have shown that moderate egg consumption not only does not increase cardiovascular risk but is positively associated with better cognitive performance and a lower risk of dementia. Egg protein is particularly rich in tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin, the neurotransmitter involved in mood, and melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Consumption of tryptophan-rich egg hydrolysates has been associated with improved attention and reduced feelings of sadness or depression. Egg choline is needed for the synthesis of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter involved in memory and learning, and also for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, the intake of which has been linked to better mental function and a lower risk of dementia in adults. Choline intake during pregnancy reduces the risk of neural tube defects and is associated with better offspring development. And lutein and zeaxanthin, which are particularly concentrated in the nervous system, are associated with better visual function and cognitive development in the offspring and also in the elderly. All this evidence confirms the importance of including eggs in a balanced diet to prevent cognitive decline and improve cognitive health throughout life.
近年来，人们对饮食与认知功能之间关系的兴趣有所增加。从这个意义上说，鸡蛋含有许多对认知功能有益的必需营养素。多项研究表明，适度食用鸡蛋不仅不会增加心血管疾病风险，反而与更好的认知表现和更低的痴呆风险呈正相关。鸡蛋蛋白富含色氨酸，色氨酸是血清素的前体，血清素是一种参与调节情绪的神经递质，同时色氨酸也是褪黑素的前体，褪黑素是一种调节睡眠-清醒周期的激素。食用富含色氨酸的鸡蛋水解物与注意力改善以及悲伤或抑郁情绪减轻有关。鸡蛋中的胆碱是合成乙酰胆碱所必需的，乙酰胆碱是一种参与记忆和学习的神经递质，同时也是合成磷脂酰胆碱所必需的，磷脂酰胆碱的摄入与成年人更好的心理功能和更低的痴呆风险有关。孕期摄入胆碱可降低神经管缺陷的风险，并与后代更好的发育相关。而叶黄素和玉米黄质特别集中在神经系统中，它们与后代以及老年人更好的视觉功能和认知发育有关。所有这些证据都证实了在均衡饮食中包含鸡蛋对于预防认知能力下降和改善一生的认知健康的重要性。
