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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 May 24;12(5):1528.
doi: 10.3390/nu12051528.

Meat Consumption, Cognitive Function and Disorders: A Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis

Huifeng Zhang  1 , Laura Hardie  2 , Areej O Bawajeeh  1   3 , Janet Cade  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Meat Consumption, Cognitive Function and Disorders: A Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis

Huifeng Zhang et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other forms of dementia are increasing in prevalence worldwide, while global dietary patterns are transitioning to a 'western type' with increasing meat consumption. Studies which have explored the associations between cognitive function and meat intakes have produced inconsistent findings. The aim of this systematic review was to explore the evidence linking meat intake with cognitive disorders. Twenty-nine studies were retrieved, including twelve cohort, three case-control, thirteen cross-sectional studies, and one intervention study. The majority (21/29) showed that meat consumption was not significantly associated with cognitive function or disorders. Meta-analysis of five studies showed no significant differences in meat consumption between cases with cognitive disorders and controls (standardized mean difference = -0.32, 95% CI: -1.01, 0.36); however, there was considerable heterogeneity. In contrast, a meta-analysis of five studies showed reduced odds of cognitive disorders by consuming meat weekly or more (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.88); however, potential publication bias was noted in relation to this finding. Overall, there was no strong association between meat intake and cognitive disorders. However, the evidence base was limited, requiring more studies of high quality to isolate the specific effect of meat consumption from dietary patterns to confirm these associations.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; cognitive disorders; cognitive impairment; dementia; meat consumption.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the literature screening by preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of studies with continuous amounts of meat consumed between cases with cognitive impairment and controls for meta-analysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of studies reporting odds ratios of those who consumed meat (fish not included) weekly or more (‘always’) vs. less frequently (‘not always’) in cases diagnosed with cognitive disorders compared to controls.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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