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A Biological Index to Screen Multi-Micronutrient Deficiencies Associated with the Risk to Develop Dementia in Older
Jeanne Neuffer1, Marjorie Gourru1, Aline Thomas1
1University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France.
Background:
Low blood status in several nutritional compounds, including long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA), carotenoids, and vitamin D, have been associated with a higher risk to develop dementia. Nutritional deficiencies may potentiate each other regarding dementia risk; yet the association of multiple nutritional deficiencies with dementia has been little explored.
Objective:
To develop an index of micronutritional biological status (MNBS) for the screening of multi-micronutritional deficiencies associated with the risk of dementia in a prospective population-based cohort of older persons.
Methods:
We included participants from the Bordeaux Three-City study, who were free of dementia at baseline, had blood measurements of LC n-3 PUFA, carotenoids, and 25(OH)D, and who were followed for up to 18 years for dementia. We used penalized splines in Cox models to model dose-response relationships of each nutritional component with the risk of dementia and construct a risk index.
Results:
629 participants with an average age of 73.1 years were included in the study. Each increase of 1 SD of the MNBS index was associated with a 46%higher risk of dementia (HR = 1.46, 95%CI 1.23; 1.73). Participants with highest index ([mean+1SD; max]) had a 4-fold increased risk of dementia compared with participants with a low index ([min; mean-1SD]) (HR = 4.17, 95%CI 2.30; 7.57).
Conclusion:
This index of assessment of micronutritional biological status is a practical tool that may help identify populations with inadequate nutritional status, screen eligible individuals for nutritional prevention in primary care, or for supplementation in preventive trials of dementia.
