Website:Innuts.com
Researchers from institutions such as the IISPV Institute in Spain conducted a 6-month intervention study on 771 adolescents. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups:
The control group (385 students), with an average of 13.8 years, did not adjust their diet;
The intervention group (386 participants), with an average of 13.9 years, consumed 30 grams of walnuts per day (containing about 2.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids) in addition to the normal diet.
At the beginning and end of the study (after 6 months), the researchers evaluated participants' attention, working memory, fluid intelligence (physiologically-based cognitive abilities such as perception, speed of operation, reasoning, etc.), executive function, social-emotional and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, among others, to analyze the effects of eating walnuts on brain function.
In addition, the researchers also counted basic information such as participants' height, weight, waist circumference, and parents' education level; lifestyle information such as physical activity, sleep duration, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet; Adherence of participants in the intervention group to eating 30 grams of walnuts per day; The participants' omega-3 index (the relative content of omega-3 fatty acids within the red blood cell membrane) was measured.
The statistical results showed that participants in the intervention group ate an average of 30 grams of walnuts per day for 70 days; There were 133 (34%) who were more compliant with eating 30 grams of walnuts per day (30 grams of walnuts per day for 6 months≥ 100 days, which equates to at least 3 days per week). The omega-3 index increased by 0.03% among the intervention group participants and 0.01% in the control group.
After removing other factors, the researchers found that at the end of the study, there were no significant differences between the intervention and control participants in terms of attention, working memory, fluid intelligence, executive function, social-emotional and ADHD symptoms.
However, when analyzing participants with higher adherence in the intervention group and participants in the control group, the researchers found that participants with higher adherence had significantly improved symptoms of attention, fluid intelligence, and ADHD.
Compared with the control participants, those who were more compliant in the intervention group had a 11.26 ms reduction in reaction time, a 1.78-point increase in fluid intelligence scores, and a 2.18-point reduction in ADHD symptom scores.
Studies have analyzed that the mechanism of the correlation between regular (at least 3 days a week) eating walnuts and improved cognitive function in adolescents may be related to the omega-3 fatty acids and other substances beneficial to the brain contained in walnuts. Individually or in interaction, these substances promote adolescent brain development and improve cognitive function.
For example, studies have found that α-linolenic acid alone (ALA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid) has neuroprotective effects and can reduce anxiety symptoms (such as mood and stress levels); When combined with iron, it appears to more effectively promote the conversion of ALA to DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which can have a positive effect on cognitive performance.
However, the relevant mechanism has not yet been clarified, and more research and exploration are needed.
The study concluded by stating that this was "the first randomized intervention trial to assess the effects of walnut consumption on cognition and function in adolescents." The results of the study provide a reference for better dietary recommendations for adolescents, and they should be guaranteed adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids to promote healthy brain development.
Follow us to take you to learn more knowledge Innuts.com.