炎症对中老年人群红细胞膜脂肪酸和认知导作用

doi:10.12183/j.scjpm.2026.0540

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the mediating role of plasma inflammatory markers in the association between dietary fatty acid intake and cognitive function. Methods This study recruited 1 074 Chinese adults aged 45-75 years from the Daxing District, Beijing, who were categorized into normal weight (NW), overweight (OW), and obese (OB) groups. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was employed to evaluate the cognitive status of the participants. Gas chromatography was utilized to analyze erythrocyte membrane fatty acid profiles, which served as biomarkers for medium- to long-term dietary fatty acid intake. Levels of plasma inflammatory markers were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). After adjusting for confounding variables, standard multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between erythrocyte membrane fatty acids and cognitive function. Results Serotonin (5-HT) levels were significantly lower in the OW group compared to the NW group (P<0.05). In the NW and OB groups, alterations in Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were significantly predicted by total saturated fatty acid (SFA) levels (P<0.05). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were associated with cognitive impairment in the OW group through the downregulation of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and Interleukin-12 (IL-12), with the mediating effects accounting for 8.76% and 7.24% of the total effect, respectively (P<0.05). Conversely, C20:5 n-3 (EPA) was associated with improved cognitive performance in the OB group by downregulating Interleukin-3 (IL-3), with the mediating effect constituting 7.32% of the total effect (P<0.05). Conclusion Dietary fatty acid intake may influence cognitive function by altering plasma inflammatory profiles. Interleukin-12, Toll-like receptor 2, and Interleukin-3 appear to function as negative modulators in the pathway linking fatty acid status to cognitive health.

Key words: Inflammatory markers, Cognitive impairment, Obesity, Erythrocyte membrane fatty acids, Middle-aged and older adults

CLC Number:

R181.3

Li Jinchen, Zhou Cui, Shen Jingyi, Ma Weiwei. Mediating role of inflammation in the association between erythrocyte membrane fatty acids and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults[J].South China Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2026, 52(5): 540-546.

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Mediating role of inflammation in the association between erythrocyte membrane fatty acids and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults

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