Relationship between urinary nitrate concentrations and cognitive function in older adults: findings from the NHANES survey

• Published in: International journal of food sciences and nutrition Vol. 72; no. 6; pp. 805 - 815
• Main Authors: Pereira, Leticia Cristina Radin, Shannon, Oliver Michael, Mazidi, Mohsen, Babateen, Abrar Mohammed, Ashor, Ammar Waham, Stephan, Blossom Christa Maree, Siervo, Mario
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 18.08.2021
• Subjects: ageing; animals; ascorbic acid; cognition; cognitive disorders; Inorganic nitrate; National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; nitrates; nitric oxide; nutritional biomarkers; risk; tandem mass spectrometry; Inorganic nitrate; ageing; nitric oxide; cognition; nutritional biomarkers
• ISSN: 0963-7486; 1465-3478; 1465-3478
• DOI: 10.1080/09637486.2020.1868411

This study evaluated the association of urinary nitrate concentrations with cognition in older subjects enrolled in the NHANES study. We also explored whether associations between urinary nitrate and cognition were modified by cardiovascular risk, vitamin D status and vitamin C intake. Two NHANES cycles were merged (2011-2012 and 2013-2014) and a total of 1,015 adults aged 60-80 (69.4 ± 0.3) years were included. Cognition was assessed using the Word List Learning, Word List Recall, Animal Fluency and the Digit Symbol Substitution tests. Urinary nitrate was analysed using electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Urinary nitrate concentrations were not associated with cognitive performance on any of the cognitive tests. Associations were also not significant in subjects at greater risk for cognitive impairment (i.e. high cardiovascular risk and non-optimal vitamin D status). Longitudinal analyses are needed to explore the associations of urinary nitrate concentrations with dietary nitrate intake and cognitive function.