Association of dietary diversity and cognition in preschoolers in rural China

Shaoping Li; Kevin Chen; Chengfang Liu; Jieying Bi; Zhenya He; Renfu Luo; Yanying Yu; Zimeiyi Wang

doi:10.1016/j.nut.2021.111470

Association of dietary diversity and cognition in preschoolers in rural China

Nutrition. 2021 Nov-Dec:91-92:111470. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2021.111470. Epub 2021 Aug 30.

Authors

Shaoping Li¹, Kevin Chen², Chengfang Liu³, Jieying Bi⁴, Zhenya He⁵, Renfu Luo¹, Yanying Yu⁶, Zimeiyi Wang⁷

Affiliations

¹ China Center for Agricultural Policy, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
² China Academy for Rural Development, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; East and Central Asia Office, International Food Policy Research Institute, Beijing, China.
³ China Center for Agricultural Policy, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: cfliu.ccap@pku.edu.cn.
⁴ Agricultural Information Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
⁵ Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
⁶ China Academy for Rural Development, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
⁷ East and Central Asia Office, International Food Policy Research Institute, Beijing, China.

PMID: 34600224
DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2021.111470

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to investigate the cognition of preschoolers in rural China and examine the relationship between dietary diversity and cognition.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey analysis. In 1334 preschoolers ages 3 to 5, from 26 preschools in two nationally designated poverty counties in Hunan Province in China, we calculated the dietary diversity score (DDS) using a 24-h recall method. To measure children's cognitive ability, we assessed the Working Memory Index and Verbal Comprehension Index on the Mandarin-language version of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition. Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the association between DDS and cognitive test scores.

Results: A total of 22% of children had a Working Memory Index that was either extremely low or borderline, and 31% of children had a Verbal Comprehension Index that was either extremely low or borderline. The mean (± SD) DDS was 5.65 ± 1.30. Those preschoolers with medium DDS (5 or 6) or high DDS (7 to 9) scored higher on both Working Memory Index-respectively, mean difference (MD), 1.327; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.246-3.901; and MD, 2.067, 95% CI, 0.261-4.641-and Verbal Comprehension Index-MD, 0.168; 95% CI, 0.072-2.135; and MD, 0.398; 95% CI, 0.032-2.137-than did those with low DDS (0 to 4).

Conclusions: Consuming a more diverse diet may contribute to better cognition in preschoolers. Future research is needed to better understand the possible causal effect of dietary diversity on cognitive development.

Keywords: Cognition; Dietary diversity; Preschoolers; Rural China.

MeSH terms

Child
Child, Preschool
China
Cognition
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet*
Humans
Rural Population*