The association of dietary choline intakes with cognitive function among the older people in underdeveloped regions: findings from the NCDFaC study

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OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the associations between dietary choline, its subtypes, and cognitive function in older adults from underdeveloped regions of China, using data from the Nutrition and Chronic Disease Family Cohort (NCDFaC) study. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1 522 older adults aged 60 and over. Dietary choline intakes were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and cognitive function was evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The associations between choline intake and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were analyzed using logistic regression models, restricted cubic splines and propensity score matching (PSM). RESULT: Among the 1 522 participants, 292 (19.2%) were diagnosed with MCI. Compared to those in the lowest quartile of total choline intake, participants in the 2nd quartile (169.0 mg/[1000 kcal*d]) had lower odds of MCI, with an OR (95% CI) of 0.63 (0.42, 0.94). Similarly, participants in the 2nd (116.0 mg/[1000 kcal*d]) and 3rd (148.0 mg/[1000 kcal*d]) quartiles of phosphatidylcholine intake had reduced odds of MCI, with ORs (95% CI) of 0.59 (0.39, 0.88) and 0.60 (0.40, 0.91), respectively. For free choline intake, the highest quartile (74.2 mg/[1000 kcal*d]) was associated with an OR (95% CI) of 0.55 (0.35, 0.86). After PSM, higher intakes of total choline and phosphatidylcholine remained associated with lower odds of MCI. CONCLUSION: Moderate to high dietary intakes of total choline, phosphatidylcholine, and free choline may be associated with lower odds of MCI among older adults in underdeveloped regions.