Breakfast Nutritional Quality and Cognitive Interference in University Students from Mexico City

Abstract

Skipping breakfast might have an impact on cognitive functions, such as interference, which is a basic capacity of executive functions that denotes the possibility of controlling an automated response. This study aimed to analyze the association between nutritional quality of breakfast and cognitive interference in a sample of university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted, a total of 422 students between 18 and 25 years participated. Cognitive interference was assessed with the Stroop Test. Breakfast was assessed with a questionnaire assigning a score for each serving of each food group that was consumed. Logistic regression models were performed. The performance in cognitive tasks was slower in those who had a poor breakfast (32.9 ± 6 vs 29.3 ± 6 s, p < 0.050). Poor cognitive interference was greater in students with poor breakfast (53% versus 23%, p = 0.001). A slower word reading was associated with skipping vegetables (OR: 2.78, 95% CI: 0.09–2.13), and cereals (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.03–2.81). Wrong color identification was associated with skipping fruits (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.43–1.99) and animal protein sources (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.07–2.49). Skipping fat-rich cereals was a protector factor (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36–0.85). Difficulty in the ability to inhibit interference was associated with skipping vegetables (OR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.25–4.80) and cereals (OR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.28–4.68). The nutritional quality of breakfast was associated with the time spent answering the Stroop test, but not with cognitive interference.

Breakfast: A Crucial Meal for Adolescents’ Cognitive Performance According to Their Nutritional Status. The Cogni-Action Project

“…It is well known that a high-quality breakfast is a great source of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, which positively impacts children’s global health and cognition [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. In this way, evidence indicates that breakfast composition may affect behavior, cognition, and learning in children and adolescents [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. In our study, both cereals and fruits (and fruit juices without added sugar) were not associated with significant cognitive performance differences.…”

Breakfast Consumption Habits at Age 6 and Cognitive Ability at Age 12: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

“…Previously, we reported that regular breakfast consumption is associated with increased intelligence quotient (IQ) in kindergarten children [ 3 ]. Since our report, several studies examining the relationship between breakfast and cognition have published mixed findings [ 6 , 7 , 8 ], demonstrating a need for improved methodology and further evaluation of breakfast composition to evaluate potential nutritional corollaries to observed outcomes. First, studies on breakfast consumption and cognitive function have largely been cross-sectional, which by nature, eliminates the author’s ability to determine the directionality of the relationship.…”

Kebiasaan Sarapan Dan Konsentrasi Belajar Mahasiswa

“…Penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Sünram-Lea (2019) mengenai dampak respon glikemik berbasis sarapan pada kognisi menunjukkan bahwa profil glukosa darah yang lebih stabil bersirkulasi dikaitkan dengan fungsi kognitif yang lebih baik di pagi hari. Melewatkan sarapan mungkin berdampak pada fungsi kognitif, seperti gangguan kapasitas dasar fungsi eksekutif dalam mengendalikan respons otomatis (Sámano et al 2019).…”