Docosahexaenoic acid levels in erythrocytes and their association with the University Selection Test Outcomes in Chile. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Valenzuela, Rodrigo; Barrera, Cynthia; Orellana, Yasna; Almagià, Atilio; Arancibia, Violeta; Larraín, Cristián; Silva, Claudio; Billeke, Pablo; Zamorano, Francisco; Martínez, Víctor; Valenzuela, Alfonso; Ivanovic, Daniza
• Is Part Of: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids. Volume 139(2018)
• Page Start: 25
• Page End: 30
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Docosahexaenoic acid -- Scholastic achievement -- Education -- Nutritional status -- Brain development -- Head circumference -- Socio-economic status; Lipids -- Periodicals; Unsaturated fatty acids -- Periodicals; Prostaglandins -- Periodicals; Leukotrienes -- Periodicals; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated -- Periodicals; Acides gras insaturés -- Périodiques; Prostaglandines -- Périodiques; Leucotriènes -- Périodiques; Lipides -- Périodiques; 612.01577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2018.11.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-3278

Abstract

Highlights: DHA presented the highest correlation with PSU outcomes both LSA and MSA. DHA was the best predictor of PSU outcomes both LSA and MSA. Z-HC was the only anthropometric nutritional indicator explaining PSU outcomes. Socio-economic conditions were significantly associated with PSU outcomes. Abstract: The aim of this study was to quantitate the relative impact of DHA and AA levels in erythrocytes, anthropometric parameters and socio-economic status of school-age children, of both genders, graduated from high school in Chile, on the scholastic achievement in the University Selection Test (Prueba de Selección Universitaria, PSU) both language scholastic achievement (LSA) and mathematics scholastic achievement (MSA). A representative sample of 671 school-age young graduated from high school in 2013, 550 and 548 of them took the PSU for LSA and MSA, respectively. Only school-age young with high (n = 91) and low (n = 69) SA in both tests were considered. A total of 122 school-age children agreed to participate in the study and were divided as follows: Group 1: high PSU outcome (n = 70; males n = 48) and Group 2: low PSU outcome (n = 52; males n = 23). Data were analyzed by means of SAS software. Independently of gender, DHA, socio-economic status and head circumference-for-age Z-score were the most relevant parameters explaining both LSA ( R 2 = 0.650; p < 0.0001) and MSA outcomes ( R 2 = 0.700; p < 0.0001). These results can be useful for nutrition, health and education planning, in order to protect children starting from an early age and thus increase their school outcomes.