Taurine-Related Nutritional Knowledge Has a Positive Effect on Intake of Taurine and Cognitive Function in the Elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations among taurine-related nutritional knowledge (TNK), taurine intake frequency (TIF), and cognitive function (CF) in Korean elderly. Subjects of this cross-sectional study were 278 elderly persons in Korea without dementia (men 76, women 202). The subjects were divided into two groups: a group with a lower than average TNK score (LAG) and a group with a higher than average TNK score (HAG). Data were obtained via questionnaires and 1: 1 interviews. Correlation analysis available in SPSS 20.0 was used to analyze associations among the three factors. Average TNK score of all subjects was 4 out of 10 points, while that of the LAG (1.9 points) was significantly lower than that of the HAG (6.6 points) (p < 0.001). Average TIF score in the HAG (195.3 points) was significantly higher than that of the LAG (180.8 points) (p < 0.001). Compared to the LAG, the HAG members more frequently consumed foods such as webfoot octopus, whelk, dried anchovy, dried shrimp, mackerel, anglerfish, skate, short-necked clam, shrimp, and dried squid (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in CF scores between the LAG and HAG. There was positive correlation between TNK and TIF scores in all the subjects (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference, but there was a tendency for a positive correlation, between TNK and CF scores (p = 0.072). These results suggest that nutritional education of the elderly about taurine is needed, and it is strongly recommended that the elderly frequently consume taurine-containing foods and supplements to prevent dementia.