The longitudinal relationship between diet quality and executive functioning development of Hispanic preschoolers in Houston, Texas

Authors: CEPNI, ALIYE - University Of South Carolina; POWER, THOMAS - Washington State University; LEDOUX, TRACEY - University Of Houston; VOLLRATH, KIRSTEN - University Of Houston; HUGHES, SHERYL - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/27/2024
Publication Date: 5/31/2024
Citation: Cepni, A.B., Power, T.G., Ledoux, T.A., Vollrath, K., Hughes, S.O. 2024. The longitudinal relationship between diet quality and executive functioning development of Hispanic preschoolers in Houston, Texas. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.05.014.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.05.014

Interpretive Summary: There is a dearth of literature examining the link between the quality of food intake in children and their cognitive development. This study measured this link using a well-known assessment of diet quality (Healthy Eating Index [HEI]) and commonly used measures of cognition in the field of child development. Results showed that specific aspects of dietary quality were related to children's cognition. Specifically, child intake of fatty acids, seafood, and plant proteins at ages 4-5 years old were related to cognitive functioning 18 months later. This is one of the first studies looking at diet quality and cognitive functioning in Hispanic preschoolers over time. This information can inform the development of educational programs for Hispanic youth.

Technical Abstract: Diet quality has been found to be related to cognitive health in school-aged children. However, this relationship remains understudied among Hispanic preschoolers, who are vulnerable to poor dietary habits and low cognitive development due to socioeconomic, cultural, and structural disparities. This longitudinal study evaluated whether the diet quality of preschoolers would be associated with executive functions (EFs) in later childhood. This is a secondary analysis of a longitudinal study of Hispanic preschoolers (4-5 years) at baseline (T1) and 18 months (T2). This study included 185 mother-child dyads with complete data at T1, recruited through Head Start centers in Houston, TX, beginning in 2011. Mothers reported on their child's dietary intake via three 24-hour recalls, which was used to calculate Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010 component and total scores. Laboratory tasks assessed cold EFs (Tapping and Flexible Item Selection Tasks) and hot EFs (delay of gratification and gift-wrapping tasks). While higher scores on tapping, flexible, and delay of gratification tasks represent a high EF, higher scores in gift-wrapping task represent a low EF. Hierarchical linear regression analyses assessed the relationship between diet quality, as measured by HEI-2010 total and component scores, at T1 (Independent Variables) and EF outcomes (Dependent Variables) at T2, controlling for child sex, age, BMI z-score, and EF at T1. HEI-2010 component score for fatty acids (B=-.13; p=.04) and seafood and plant proteins (B=.09; p=.05), were respectively related to later "cold" and "hot" EFs of Hispanic preschoolers. Other HEI components or the overall score did not predict EFs. This study shows that specific HEI components support cold and hot EFs development among Hispanic preschoolers, but total HEI-2010 score does not. Experimental research is needed to assess the impact of dietary interventions on cognitive development of Hispanic preschoolers.