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Breakfast cereals that are considered healthy may actually increase the risk of dementia - and it's not because of the sugar they contain.
A study published in the journal General Psychiatry found a link between an added vitamin in well-known brands of breakfast cereals and cognitive decline, which may be a precursor to dementia.
Thiamine, or vitamin B1, is also found naturally in whole grains, legumes, liver and salmon, and insufficient intake has also been linked to health problems.
But researchers say for the first time they have discovered a J-shaped curve that suggests overconsumption also has negative consequences.
High sugar cereal/ShutterStock
The "sweet spot" for the amount of thiamine to consume, according to the study, is 0.68 mg per day. A 30-gram bowl of cereal has about 1.2 mg.
This calls into question the daily value recommended by the Food and Drug Administration - which is 1.2 mg of thiamine per day.
"Thiamine deficiency may lead to insufficient energy supply to the neurons of the brain, which may impair cognitive function," the researchers said. "Our study highlights the importance of Maintaining optimal thiamine intake levels in the general elderly population to prevent cognitive decline."
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The study looked at data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), which included 3,100 people between 1989 and 2011 who reported their diet and underwent cognitive tests four times from 1997 to 2006. The average age of a study subject was 63 and the tests included word recall and number pattern challenges .
During the follow-ups, researchers found a J-shaped relationship between thiamine consumption and decreased scores on cognitive tests.
The average thiamine intake among the study subjects was 0.93 mg per day. The J-shaped curve revealed that the ideal amount was 0.68 mg per day, but the range between 0.6 mg and 1.00 mg per day has minimal risks.
However, every 1.0 mg/day above the safe limit of 0.68 mg was associated with a 4.24-point decrease in global cognitive score.
The associations the researchers observed were stronger among people who were obese, had high blood pressure or did not smoke.
The global cognitive score ranges from zero to 27, which means that a drop of about four points is a drop in cognitive function of at least 15 percent.
The researchers emphasized that more research should be done on the subject, as thiamine has a series of health benefits, including strengthening the immune system, regulating diabetes, aiding digestion, promoting heart health and increasing energy.
More on the same topic:
dementia
brain
cereals
diet