This study examined the association between dietary intakes of total and specific carotenoids and cognitive decline among Chinese middle‐aged and older adults.

We included 4043 participants aged 55 years and older from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997–2006). Average daily dietary intakes of total carotenoids, α‐carotene, β‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein + zeaxanthin were calculated from 3‐day 24‐h dietary recalls. Cognitive function was measured repeatedly using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status‐Modified. Linear mixed‐effects models were utilized to estimate beta coefficients (β) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of energy‐adjusted carotenoid intake with changes in cognitive z‐scores.

Higher intake of total dietary carotenoids was associated with slower cognitive decline. Comparing the top to bottom quintiles (median intake: 37.0 vs. 3.1 mg/day) of total carotenoids, the adjusted difference in annual decline rates (95% CI) was 0.018 (0.001–0.035, p‐trend = 0.037). The strongest association was observed for moderate intake at the fourth quintile (median intake: 23.5 mg/day, β = 0.028, 95% CI: 0.011–0.046, p‐quadratic = 0.030). Protective associations were also found for specific carotenoids, including α‐carotene (β_{Q5 vs. Q1} = 0.037, 95% CI: 0.020–0.055), β‐cryptoxanthin (β = 0.032, 95% CI: 0.014–0.049), lutein + zeaxanthin (β = 0.020, 95% CI: 0.002–0.037), lycopene (β = 0.018, 95% CI: 0.001–0.035) and β‐carotene (β = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.001–0.036).

A potential nonlinear association between dietary carotenoids and cognitive decline was observed in Chinese middle‐aged and older adults. Further research is warranted to confirm optimal intake level for dietary carotenoids and to investigate the underlying biological mechanisms.

We aimed to explore the associations of adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle with cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) among schoolteachers in China.

We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis among 2983 teachers (aged 39.8 ± 9.3 years, 73.8% women) in Zhejiang Province, China. A healthy lifestyle score (0–7) was constructed based on seven low‐risk factors: healthy diet, noncurrent smoking, noncurrent drinking, regular exercise, normal body mass index (BMI), adequate sleep duration, and limited sedentary behavior. CMDs included self‐reported hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between healthy lifestyle and CMD.

A total of 493 (16.5%) participants had at least one CMD, with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes being the three leading CMDs. Each point increment in a healthy lifestyle score was associated with 20% lower odds of having CMD (p‐trend < 0.001). Compared with 0–3 low‐risk factors, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 0.66 (0.50–0.88) for 4 low‐risk factors and 0.51 (0.39–0.67) for 5–7 low‐risk factors. We observed independent associations for normal BMI (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.40–0.63), noncurrent drinking (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36–0.77), and limited sedentary behavior (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.62–0.96) in relation to CMD. Healthy diet (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.55–1.01) exhibited marginally significant association with CMD.

Our findings suggest that adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle is associated with lower odds of CMD among schoolteachers.