Author, as appears in the article.: Pinar-Martí A; Fernández-Barrés S; Gignac F; Persavento C; Delgado A; Romaguera D; Lázaro I; Ros E; López-Vicente M; Salas-Salvadó J; Sala-Vila A; Júlvez J
Department: Bioquímica i Biotecnologia
URV's Author/s: Salas Salvadó, Jorge
Keywords: Polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic acid (dha) Attention Alpha-linolenic acid (ala) Adolescence
Abstract: Omega-3 fatty acids are critical for brain function. Adolescence is increasingly believed to entail brain vulnerability to dietary intake. In contrast to the abundant research on the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in cognition, research on DHA and attention in healthy adolescents is scarce. In addition, the role of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the vegetable omega-3 fatty acid, is unexplored. We examined associations between DHA and ALA and attention function among a healthy young population. In this cross-sectional study conducted in 372 adolescents (13.8 ± 0.9 years-old), we determined the red blood cell proportions of DHA and ALA by gas chromatography (objective biomarkers of their long-term dietary intake) and measured attention scores through the Attention Network Test. We constructed multivariable linear regression models to analyze associations, controlling for known confounders. Compared to participants at the lowest DHA tertile (reference), those at the highest DHA tertile showed significantly lower hit reaction time-standard error (higher attentiveness) (28.13 ms, 95% confidence interval [CI] = – 52.30; – 3.97), lower hit reaction time (– 38.30 ms, 95% CI = – 73.28; – 3.33) and lower executive conflict response (– 5.77 ms, 95% CI = – 11.44; – 0.09). In contrast, higher values were observed in those at the top tertile of ALA in hit reaction time compared to the lowest one (46.14 ms, 95% CI = 9.90; 82.34). However, a beneficial association was observed for ALA, with decreasing impulsivity index across tertiles. Overall, our results suggest that DHA (reflecting its dietary intake) is associated with attention performance in typically developing adolescents. The role of dietary ALA in attention is less clear, although higher blood levels of ALA appear to result in lower impulsivity. Future intervention studies are needed to determine the causality of these associations and to better shape dietary recommendations for brain health during the adolescence period.
Thematic Areas: Psychology, developmental Psychology Psychiatry and mental health Psychiatry Psicología Philosophy Pediatrics, perinatology and child health Pediatrics Medicine (miscellaneous) Medicina ii Medicina i Interdisciplinar General medicine Farmacia Engenharias iv Educação Developmental and educational psychology Ciencias sociales Ciências biológicas ii Ciências biológicas i
licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
Author's mail: jordi.salas@urv.cat
Author identifier: 0000-0003-2700-7459
Record's date: 2024-08-03
Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
Papper original source: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 32 (11): 2187-2195
APA: Pinar-Martí A; Fernández-Barrés S; Gignac F; Persavento C; Delgado A; Romaguera D; Lázaro I; Ros E; López-Vicente M; Salas-Salvadó J; Sala-Vila A; Júl (2023). Red blood cell omega-3 fatty acids and attention scores in healthy adolescents. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 32(11), 2187-2195. DOI: 10.1007/s00787-022-02064-w
Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Journal publication year: 2023
Publication Type: Journal Publications
Repositori URV