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Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Published on: July 29, 2020
Breakfast glycaemic index and cognitive function in adolescent school children
Simon B Cooper1, Stephan Bandelow, Maria L Nute
1Institute of Youth Sport, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Sir John Beckwith Centre for Sport, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK. s.b.cooper@lboro.ac.uk
A low-glycaemic index (GI) breakfast significantly improved cognitive function in adolescents compared to a high-GI breakfast or skipping breakfast. This suggests low-GI meals are best for adolescent brain performance.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Low-glycaemic index (GI) breakfasts may benefit cognitive function, but evidence in adolescents is limited.
- Understanding the impact of breakfast GI on adolescent cognition is crucial for dietary recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of low-GI breakfast, high-GI breakfast, and breakfast omission on adolescent cognitive function.
- To compare cognitive performance and glycaemic responses across different breakfast conditions.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-two adolescents (aged 12-14 years) participated in a study involving low-GI, high-GI, and no breakfast conditions.
- Cognitive function tests (Stroop, Flanker, Sternberg) and blood glucose measurements were conducted post-breakfast.
Main Results:
- A low-GI breakfast enhanced response times and accuracy on cognitive tasks compared to breakfast omission and high-GI breakfast.
- Participants consuming a low-GI breakfast showed a lower glycaemic response than those with a high-GI breakfast.
Conclusions:
- A low-GI breakfast is most beneficial for adolescent cognitive function, outperforming high-GI options and breakfast omission.
- Dietary choices, specifically the GI of breakfast, significantly impact cognitive performance in adolescents.
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