High Folate Intake Is Related to Better Academic Achievement in Swedish Adolescents

Nilsson, Torbjörn; Yngve, Agneta; Böttiger, Anna K.; Hurtig-Wennlöf, Anita; Sjöstróm, Michael

doi:10.1542/peds.2010-1481

Cited by 33 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…The sum of school grades for either 17 main subjects or 10 core subjects was used as a measure of academic achievement, and its dependence on tHcy and plasma choline was tested. The previously established strong socioeconomic predictors of school grades (5) were entered as covariates ( i.e. , sex, smoking, and maternal education).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Against this background, we hypothesized that, in addition to folate, choline and/or betaine might be predictors of academic achievement. We therefore studied academic achievement in 324 children aged 15 yr and measured biomarkers of choline in blood, 2 high‐prevalence single nucleotide polymorphisms affecting their 1‐CM ( MTHFR, PEMT ) (18, 19), and the major socioeconomic factors known to influence school achievement (5).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plasma 1‐carbon metabolites and academic achievement in 15‐yr‐old adolescents

Nilsson¹,

Hurtig-Wennlöf

Sjöstróm

et al. 2016

FASEB j.

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Academic achievement in adolescents is correlated with 1-carbon metabolism (1-CM), as folate intake is positively related and total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) negatively related to academic success. Because another 1-CM nutrient, choline is essential for fetal neurocognitive development, we hypothesized that choline and betaine could also be positively related to academic achievement in adolescents. In a sample of 15-yr-old children (n= 324), we measured plasma concentrations of homocysteine, choline, and betaine and genotyped them for 2 polymorphisms with effects on 1-CM, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T, rs1801133, and phosphatidylethanolamineN-methyltransferase (PEMT), rs12325817 (G>C). The sum of school grades in 17 major subjects was used as an outcome measure for academic achievement. Lifestyle and family socioeconomic status (SES) data were obtained from questionnaires. Plasma choline was significantly and positively associated with academic achievement independent of SES factors (paternal education and income, maternal education and income, smoking, school) and of folate intake (P= 0.009,R(2)= 0.285). With the addition of thePEMTrs12325817 polymorphism, the association value was only marginally changed. Plasma betaine concentration, tHcy, and theMTHFR677C>T polymorphism did not affect academic achievement in any tested model involving choline. Dietary intake of choline is marginal in many adolescents and may be a public health concern.-Nilsson, T. K., Hurtig-Wennlöf, A., Sjöström, M., Herrmann, W., Obeid, R., Owen, J. R., Zeisel, S. Plasma 1-carbon metabolites and academic achievement in 15-yr-old adolescents.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasma 1‐carbon metabolites and academic achievement in 15‐yr‐old adolescents

Nilsson¹,

Hurtig-Wennlöf

Sjöstróm

et al. 2016

FASEB j.

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“…The four studies reviewed here suggest possible specific effects of iron, zinc, folate, vitamin B 12 , and thiamine on physical or cognitive development [27][28][29]31], and it is worth emphasizing the effect these micronutrients also have on hemoglobin status. However, the effects of individual micronutrients are not clear.…”

Section: Performancementioning

confidence: 97%

“…With regard to the role of micronutrients in various cognitive and physical performance outcomes in children, six studies have been published in the past 2 years (Table 3). Academic achievement has been positively linked to folate intake in normal children [28] and a follow-up of children who were fed with a thiamine-deficient milk substitute during infancy up to 7 years of age showed significantly greater language impairment when compared to age-matched children who were fed with other milk sources [29]. For cognition, one fortification study found no effects on cognition in apparently healthy children [18], whereas a supplementation study found that verbal and nonverbal memory improved after supplementation of iron and zinc in deficient children [27].…”

Section: Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Micronutrient supply and health outcomes in children

Kurpad

Edward

Aeberli

2013

Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care

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“…Folate intake is also important to prevent cognitive decline in old age and may enhance academic performance in young people [1,2]. The recommended intake for adults is 400 μg/day, with the addition of 200 μg/day during pregnancy and 100 μg/day during breastfeeding [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Folate intake in a Swedish adult population: Food sources and predictive factors

Monteagudo

Scander

Nilsen

et al. 2017

Food & Nutrition Research

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Introduction: Folate plays an important role in cell metabolism, but international studies show that intake is currently below recommendations, especially among women. The study objective was to identify folate food sources by food group, gender, and age group, and to identify factors influencing folate intake, based on food consumption data for Swedish adults in the 2010–11 Riksmaten study.Methods: The sample included a representative Swedish population aged 18–80 years (n = 1657; 56.3% female). Food and nutrient intakes were estimated from self-reported food records during 4 consecutive days. Food consumption was categorized into 26 food groups. Stepwise regression was used to analyze food groups as folate sources for participants. Factors predicting the highest folate intake (third tertile) were determined by logistic regression analysis.Results: Vegetables and pulses represented the most important folate source for all age groups and both genders, especially in women aged 45–64 years (49.7% of total folate intake). The next folate source in importance was dairy products for the youngest group (18–30 years), bread for men, and fruit and berries for women. The likelihood of being in the highest tertile of folate intake (odds ratio = 1.69, 95% confidence interval 1.354–2.104) was higher for men. Influencing factors for folate intake in the highest tertile were low body mass index and high educational level in the men, and high educational level, vegetarian diet, organic product consumption, non-smoking, and alcohol consumption within recommendations in the women.Conclusion: This study describes the folate intake per food group of Swedish adults according to the 2010–11 Riksmaten survey, identifying vegetables and pulses as the most important source. Data obtained on factors related to folate consumption may be useful for the development of specific nutrition education programs to increase the intake of this vitamin in high-risk groups.

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High Folate Intake Is Related to Better Academic Achievement in Swedish Adolescents

Cited by 33 publications

References 63 publications

Plasma 1‐carbon metabolites and academic achievement in 15‐yr‐old adolescents

Plasma 1‐carbon metabolites and academic achievement in 15‐yr‐old adolescents

Micronutrient supply and health outcomes in children

Folate intake in a Swedish adult population: Food sources and predictive factors

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