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The Association Between Neuropsychological Function with Serum Vitamins A, D, and E and hs-CRP Concentrations

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Abstract

Vitamin status and the presence of subclinical inflammation may affect cognitive performance and behavior. We have investigated the relationship between serum fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, and E) and inflammatory markers with aggression and cognitive abilities, in a population of healthy adolescents. A cross-sectional study of 940 adolescent girls was performed. Serum concentrations of vitamins A, D, and E, hs-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and antibody titers to Hsp27 (anti-Hsp27) were measured. Hematological indices including lymphocyte, neutrophil, platelet counts, and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) were evaluated. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and RDW to platelet ratio (RPR) were calculated. A Cognitive Abilities Questionnaire and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire were applied to assess cognitive performance and aggression, respectively. There was a positive correlation between serum vitamins A with vitamins D and E, as well as between serum hs-CRP with serum vitamin E. Linear regression analysis showed that serum vitamin D, hs-CRP, anti-Hsp27, and RDW were significantly associated with aggression score. Furthermore, serum vitamin E, hs-CRP, anti-Hsp27, NLR, and RPR were significantly associated with cognitive ability score. Inflammatory processes may affect cognitive performance and behavior. Prospective studies are warranted to determine the potential of targeting antioxidant and inflammatory pathways for the treatment of psychological disorder.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all study participants and their parents.

Funding

This study was funded by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Code: 931188) and Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences.

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Author notes

  1. Afsane Bahrami and Hamidreza Bahrami-Taghanaki contributed equally as first authors

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

    Afsane Bahrami

  2. Complementary and Chinese Medicine, Persian and Complementary Medicine Faculty, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Hamidreza Bahrami-Taghanaki

  3. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Zahra Khorasanchi

  4. Clinical Research Unit, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Maryam Tayefi

  5. Division of Medical Education, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 9PH, UK

    Gordon A. Ferns

  6. Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Hamid Reza Sadeghnia

  7. Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan

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  1. Afsane Bahrami
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  2. Hamidreza Bahrami-Taghanaki
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  4. Maryam Tayefi
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  6. Hamid Reza Sadeghnia
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Contributions

Concept: M G-M, HRS, H B-T.

Design: A B, H B-T.

Data collection or processing: A B, Z K, G A.F.

Analysis or interpretation: M T.

Literature search: H B-T.

Writing: G A. F, A B.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hamid Reza Sadeghnia or Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan.

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Ethics Committee Approval

The approval of the Ethic Committee of the Mashad University of Medical Sciences was obtained about this study (931188); informed consent: It was taken.

Informed Consent

“Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.”

Conflict of Interest

The authors who have taken part in this study declared that they do not have anything to disclose regarding funding or conflict of interest with respect to this manuscript.

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Bahrami, A., Bahrami-Taghanaki, H., Khorasanchi, Z. et al. The Association Between Neuropsychological Function with Serum Vitamins A, D, and E and hs-CRP Concentrations. J Mol Neurosci 68, 243–250 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-019-01288-x

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