1. 3/404 Introduction: Results: Aim: Methods: Discussion: Reference:
Title:
The effects of breakfast and breakfast composition on cognition in children and adolescents: A systematic review
Authors:
Katie Adolphus, Clare L. Lawton, Claire L Champ, Louise Dye
Workcenter:
Human Appetite Research Unit, School of Psychology, University of Leeds
Introduction:
Breakfast has been suggested to positively affect learning in children.
However, breakfast is the most frequently skipped meal.
A systematic review of the evidence was conducted to get the latest status.
Results:
45 published studies
34 acute intervention studies
19 breakfast (BF) vs. no BF
10 BF composition
5 both
11 chronic intervention studies
All school breakfast program (SBP) vs. no SBP
Results: Acute effects of BF vs. no BF:
Overall advantage of breakfast vs. no breakfast
Transient beneficial effect on cognitive function
Post-ingestion effects +10 to +210 min
Range of energy loads & foods (95 – 590 Kcal)
Enhancement and maintenance of performance
Effects more apparent in undernourished children
Domain specific effects
Attention, executive function, and memory
Results: Acute effects of BF type:
Inconclusive
Comparisons: differing GI/GL, energy, high CHO vs. high Protein
Few studies and inconsistent findings
Results: Chronic effects of SBPs
Limited effects on cognitive outcomes
Unclear if effects are related to breakfast or the SBP regimen. Not a true test of breakfast per se.
Results: Quality assessment:
Best evidence: Acute effects of BF vs. no BF
Quality, consistency, quantity, clinical impact = Fair
Generalisability = Limited
Aim:
To systematically review the evidence from intervention studies for the effects of breakfast on cognitive performance in children and adolescents
Methods:
Search strategy: Databases searched: Ovid MEDLINE(R), PsycINFO, and Web of Science.
Table 1: Search statements
Inclusion criteria:
Human intervention studies that objectively measured cognitive performance in both children and adolescents were included.
Study selection process:
Figure 1: PRISMA flow diagram
Quality assessment:
Graded the strength of evidence: Quality, consistency, quantity, clinical impact, generalisability.
Breakfast
Cognitive outcomes
Sample
‘breakfast’ OR ‘breakfast program’ OR ‘morning meal’ OR ‘first meal’
AND ‘cogniti*’ OR ‘memory’ OR ‘attention’ OR ‘visual-spatial’ OR ‘visuo-spatial’ OR ‘recall’ OR ‘recognition’ OR ‘problem solving’ OR ‘reaction time’ OR ‘vigilance’ OR ‘executive function’ OR ‘reasoning’ OR ‘psychomotor’
AND ‘child*’ OR ‘adolescent*’
Discussion:
Breakfast consumption compared to breakfast skipping has a positive effect on cognitive function in children and adolescents.
These effects could have wider impact for learning in the classroom and for educational achievement.