Short-Term Effects Of Dietary Fructose On Cognitive Performance And Lipid Profiles In Older Adults: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This crossover feeding design study investigated the changes in cognitive performance and lipid profiles between high (200 g) or low fructose (20 g) diet intervention during a period of one week for each diet. There was a 7-day washout period between intervention diets. Participants with blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg, ages 65 to 80 years old, with a Montreal Cognitive assessment (MoCA) score ≥19 were recruited. Subjective memory, objective cognitive performance, and lipid profiles were assessed. Anthropometric data and physical activity were also assessed during the study. This present study suggests that enhanced sustained attention may be influenced by varying fructose consumption levels. There also was a trend toward significance in attention efficiency and memory capacity in male adults given the high fructose diet compared to the low fructose diet. However, other cognitive domains and lipid profiles of participants showed no significant changes between the high and low fructose diets.