In a recent study published within the journal Brain Sciences, scientists examine the role of β-carotene in maintaining cognitive performance and mental health, either alone or together with other dietary components.

Study: The Effect of Beta-Carotene on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review. Image Credit: Danijela Maksimovic / Shutterstock.com

In regards to the study

All relevant studies were obtained from multiple databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. The MySLR digital platform was used to pick and evaluate the standard of articles obtained from different sources. MySLR is a digital tool equipped with the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm to research large datasets using text mining. 

The present study included all adult participants without mental disorders. Several kinds of studies were considered for the evaluation, including randomized clinical trials, prospective or cross-sectional studies, and longitudinal studies.

A complete of 168 studies were identified after the initial search. Nonetheless, after considering the eligibility criteria and removing the duplicates, 16 studies were included in the ultimate review.

Importance of optimal cognitive function to take care of each day life

Cognitive behavior is significant to a person’s overall health and well-being. Cognitive functions include learning, language, memory, attention, perceptual-motor function, and social cognition, in addition to receiving, processing, and interpreting information. The shortage of equilibrium inside the brain structure and disorientation on the molecular/cellular level, neural interactions, and protein–protein interaction networks result in cognitive dysfunction.

Importantly, cognitive function just isn’t stable, because it continually evolves throughout life. Aging is related to cognitive impairment, with one recent study estimating that 19% of people under 75 years of age suffer from variable degrees of cognitive dysfunction in comparison with about 29% amongst people above 85 years of age.

About 30% of the worldwide population above 65 years of age have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a brain disorder that affects memory and pondering skills. Cancer patients treated with chemotherapy often develop cognitive impairment known as “chemobrain” after or through the treatment. The currently ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic also caused brain fog, which is a sort of temporary cognitive impairment.

Thus, developing effective strategies linked to dietary interventions is imperative to stop cognitive decline.

Use of β-carotene to combat cognitive dysfunction in adults

Carotenoids are common antioxidants and anti inflammatory agents that may effectively improve cognitive health. So far, there aren’t any guidelines or recommendations regarding the optimal dose of carotenoid intake for favorable outcomes.

β-carotene is a necessary natural carotenoid and dietary source of pro-vitamin A. Furthermore, β-carotene possesses significant free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties because of the presence of abundant unsaturated bonds in its molecule. β-carotene is present in fruits, vegetables, soup/bouillon, and food coloring additives.

Vitamin A is crucial for multiple functions pertaining to vision, immunity, and fertility. Few studies have explored the association between β-carotene and cognitive function. Some epidemiological studies have presented inconclusive results regarding how β-carotene influences cognitive function. 

One recent study indicated that β-carotene dietary intake was inversely related to cognitive function decline. A linear dose-response relationship between dietary β-carotene intake and Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease word learning (CERAD WL) test, alpha-fetoprotein test, and Defense Subject Standardized Test (DSST) results were observed; nonetheless, these results varied based on sex.

A positive correlation between high β-carotene levels within the blood and improved semantic memory performance has been observed. Thus, β-carotene serum levels look like a big predictor of semantic memory performance.

The Rotterdam study reported that a lower consumption of β-carotene causes decreased cognitive performance. Comparatively, long-term dietary β-carotene consumption at the next concentration was linked with a lower possibility of poor cognitive function. 

Many randomized clinical trials have supported the protective role of β-carotene against cognitive impairment. For instance, the Physicians’ Health Study (PHS) beneficial that fifty mg of β-carotene on every alternate day could improve verbal and cognitive memory in adults.

Greater episodic memory and semantic fluency have been reported when β-carotene was supplemented with vitamins C and E. Notably, cognitive improvement was more significant amongst non-smokers.

Mechanistically, β-carotene and vitamin E work synergistically to stop lipid peroxidation. Nonetheless, in some cases, high antioxidant intake can increase lipid peroxidation and DNA oxidative damage. Recent studies have indicated that β-carotene intake alleviates brain fog through the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CAMKIV) pathway.

Conclusions

The present study summarized the clinical evidence regarding the advantages of using β-carotene as a dietary intervention for cognitive maintenance. Most epidemiological and randomized control studies support the useful role of β-carotene in improving cognitive function.

A mix of β-carotene with other nutrients with higher antioxidant properties, equivalent to zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin E, has been shown to significantly impact cognitive function.