Trans fat, saturated fat may induce cognitive decline in diabetics

Friday April 10, 2009 (foodconsumer.org) -- Eating too much trans fat and saturated fat may increase the risk of cognitive decline in people with type 2 diabetes, a new study published in the April 2009 issue of Diabetes Care suggests.

The study, led by EE Devore and colleagues from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, showed that women who had high intakes of trans fat and/or saturated fat were at higher risk of cognitive decline.

The researcher evaluated 1,486 diabetic women aged 70 or older who participated in the Nurses' Health Study. Dietary intake of trans fat, saturated and polyunsaturated fats was surveyed since midlife, before and after diagnosis of diabetes.

They found higher intakes of saturated and trans fat since midlife and a lower intake ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat were all highly associated with worse cognitive decline in the participants.

The average score from six cognitive tests for those having the highest intake of trans fat was 0.15 standard units worse as compared to those who had the lowest intake. The difference was comparable with the difference in cognitive function in women 7 years apart in age.
 
The association was similar after the diagnosis of diabetes.

The researchers concluded "These findings suggest that lower intakes of saturated and trans fat and higher intake of polyunsaturated fat relative to saturated fat may reduce cognitive decline in individuals with type 2 diabetes."

(Written by David Liu and edited by Heather Kelley)