Relationships between dietary nutrients intake and lipid levels with functional MRI dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation

Figures & data

Table 1 Descriptive statistics (represented as mean±SD)

Parameters	Total (N=15)	Normal range
Age	66.80±2.70	N/A
Response accuracy (%)	47.33±18.94	N/A
Response reaction time (seconds)	2,264.41±523.94	N/A
DLPFC activation (maximum t value)	13.48±3.28	N/A
Total cholesterol (mmol/L)	5.45±0.95	<5.20
Triglyceride (mmol/L)	1.42±0.64	<1.70
HDL-C (mmol/L)	1.56±0.40	>1.03
LDL-C (mmol/L)	3.24±1.04	<2.58
TCH:HDL-C ratio	3.63±0.79	N/A
MMSE	25.20±2.04	N/A
Digit Span forward	9.20±1.97	N/A
Digit Span backward	3.60±1.84	N/A
Digit Symbol	35.40±11.33	N/A
RAVLT immediate recall	7.13±2.07	N/A
RAVLT delayed recall	5.87±2.95	N/A
VR immediate recall	29.53±7.44	N/A
VR delayed recall	30.33±8.44	N/A
Dietary nutrient intake
Energy (kcal)	1,385.71±426.58	1,770–2,330
Protein (g)	51.09±20.38	50–58
Carbohydrate (%)	46.99±2.79	50–65
Fat (g)	67.06±32.53	49–68
Total fiber (g)	4.60±2.83	20–30
Vitamin A (RE)	645.72±284.63	600
Vitamin C (mg)	79.29±47.58	70
Vitamin E (mg)	3.04±1.15	7.5–10
Thiamin (mg)	0.48±0.13	1.1–1.2
Riboflavin (m)	0.85±0.29	1.1–1.3
Niacin (mg)	7.79±3.86	14–16
Vitamin B6 (mg)	0.94±0.70	1.5–1.7
Folate (μg)	71.71±27.09	400
Vitamin B12 (μg)	3.10±3.59	4
Sodium (mg)	2,205.16±553.71	2,300
Potassium (mg)	1,353.05±612.98	4,700
Calcium (mg)	295.54±148.61	1,000–1,200
Iron (mg)	9.28±4.21	11–14
Phosphorus (mg)	696.62±298.58	4,000
Magnesium (mg)	118.53±57.07	420
Zinc (mg)	2.93±1.43	4.3–6.3
Copper (mg)	0.52±0.21	0.9
Manganese (mg)	0.86±2.25	1.8
Selenium (μg)	26.34±17.03	23–31
Chromium (μg)	0.04±1.00	20–30
Molybdenum (mg)	0.03±0.09	0.045

Abbreviations: DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MMSE, Mini– Mental State Examination; RAVLT, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; TCH:HDL-C, total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; VR, visual reproduction.

Figure 1 Greatest activation was observed in right middle frontal gyrus (x=38, y=6, z=56), significant at P<0.05 (corrected for FWE) during N-back task among participants with mild cognitive impairment.

Abbreviations: FWE, family-wise error corrected; rMFG, right middle frontal gyrus.

Table 2 Activated brain regions during N-back task (P<0.05, corrected for FWE)

Anatomical locations	x, y, z	Voxels activated	Maximum t value	P-value
Right middle frontal gyrus	38, 6, 56	14,810	25.12	<0.001
Left superior frontal gyrus	−4, 32, 38	60	11.84	<0.001
Right cerebral white matter	10, 26, 36	91	10.85	<0.001
Right posterior orbital gyrus	30, 34, −18	10	6.35	0.003
Right cerebral white matter	24, −18, 58	1	5.86	0.028
Left cerebral white matter	−26, 44, −12	8	5.46	0.004
Right cerebral white matter	8, −20, 70	2	5.30	0.019
Left cerebral white matter	−18, 50, −10	2	5.29	0.019
Right superior frontal gyrus	14, 46, 44	7	5.18	0.006
Right superior frontal gyrus	8, 50, 44	2	5.04	0.019

Abbreviation: FWE, family-wise error corrected.

Table 3 Associations between dietary nutrient intake, lipid profile, cognitive assessments, and brain activation

Variables	DLPFC activation
	r	P-valuea
Dietary nutrient intake
Energy (kcal)	0.600	0.018b
Protein (g)	0.657	0.008c
Carbohydrate (g)	0.335	0.222
Fat (g)	0.421	0.118
Cholesterol (mg)	0.541	0.037b
Saturated fat (g)	0.295	0.285
Monosaturated fat (g)	0.138	0.625
Polyunsaturated fat (g)	−0.034	0.905
Oleic acid (g)	−0.102	0.719
Linoleic acid (g)	−0.314	0.254
Linolenic acid (g)	−0.065	0.817
Total fiber (g)	0.335	0.223
Sugar (g)	0.468	0.079
Vitamin A (retinol equivalent)	0.148	0.600
Beta-carotene (mg)	0.204	0.465
Vitamin C (mg)	−0.015	0.958
Vitamin E (mg)	0.229	0.411
Thiamin (mg)	0.358	0.190
Riboflavin (m)	0.526	0.044
Niacin (mg)	0.661	0.007c
Vitamin B6 (mg)	0.687	0.005c
Folate (mg)	0.134	0.635
Vitamin B12 (mg)	0.547	0.035b
Sodium (mg)	0.480	0.070
Potassium (mg)	0.637	0.011b
Calcium (mg)	0.431	0.109
Iron (mg)	0.661	0.007c
Phosphorus (mg)	0.556	0.031b
Magnesium (mg)	0.548	0.034b
Zinc (mg)	0.335	0.222
Copper (mg)	0.142	0.614
Manganese (mg)	0.081	0.775
Selenium (mg)	0.515	0.049b
Chromium (mg)	0.700	0.004c
Molybdenum (mg)	0.383	0.159
Lipid profile
Total cholesterol (mmol/L)	0.350	0.201
Triglyceride (mmol/L)	−0.205	0.463
HDL-C (mmol/L)	0.540	0.038b
LDL-C (mmol/L)	0.166	0.554
TCH:HDL-C ratio	−0.302	0.274
Cognitive assessments
MMSE	0.601	0.018b
Digit Span forward	0.099	0.725
Digit Span backward	−0.051	0.856
Digit Symbol	0.667	0.007c
RAVLT immediate recall	0.393	0.147
RAVLT delayed recall	0.336	0.220
VR immediate recall	0.440	0.101
VR delayed recall	0.294	0.288

Notes:

a Pearson’s correlation.

b Significant at P<0.05.

c Significant at P<0.01.

Abbreviations: DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MMSE, Mini– Mental State Examination; RAVLT, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; TCH:HDL-C, total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; VR, visual reproduction.

Table 4 Relationships between dietary nutrient intake, lipid profile, cognitive assessments, and brain activation

Parameters	DLPFC activation
	OR	t	P-valuea
Vitamin B6	0.505	2.67	0.023
Digit Symbol	0.413	2.29	0.045

Note:

a Multiple linear regression (R²=0.748), significant at P<0.05.

Abbreviation: DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.