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Differential Effects of Carbohydrates on Changes in Acute Childhood Cognitive Control
Author(s) -
Khan Naiman,
Raine Lauren,
Winter Adam,
Cohen Neal,
Kramer Arthur,
Hillman Charles
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.392.3
Subject(s) - postprandial , cognition , glycemic , placebo , ingestion , carbohydrate , placebo controlled study , medicine , psychology , double blind , insulin , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology
Understanding how diet affects cognition has important public health implications. However, the effects of specific nutrients on acute childhood cognitive function are unclear. This double‐blind, placebo controlled trial assessed the effects of formulae containing carbohydrates with different glycemic properties, on cognitive control among 9‐10‐year‐olds. All participants (N=103) consumed a non‐caloric placebo and were randomized to 1 of 3 treatments containing carbohydrates with varying absorption rates (FAST [n=36], MODERATE [n=34], or SLOW [n=33]). A modified Eriksen flanker task was used to assess cognitive control during the fasted state and 10 min and 70 min postprandial. 70 min postprandial, the FAST carbohydrate increased reaction time during the congruent trials and response variability during congruent and incongruent trials. The SLOW carbohydrate decreased response accuracy interference (congruent – incongruent) compared to the MODERATE carbohydrate. These results demonstrate that ingestion of carbohydrates with varying glycemic properties elicits differential changes in acute cognitive control whereby rapidly absorbed carbohydrates result in longer reaction times and greater intraindividual response time variability. Conversely, moderating the glycemic response may improve children's ability to modulate cognitive control when faced with higher task demands. (Supported by a grant from Abbott Nutrition through the Center for Nutrition, Learning, and Memory at the University of Illinois)