Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Communication
  • Published:

Relationship between habitual breakfast and intellectual performance (logical reasoning) in well-nourished schoolchildren of Madrid (Spain)

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages S49–S53 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationships between habitual breakfast habits and performance in verbal aptitude, logical reasoning and mathematical tests in a group of well-nourished scholars from Madrid.

Design: The study subjects were 180 children between 9 and 13 y of age. A dietetic study was undertaken using a 7-day food record. Scholastic aptitude was examined using the scholastic aptitude test (SAT-1) test.

Results: Breakfast made up 19.1% of total daily intake. No differences were found between subjects in terms of personal data or total diet with respect to whether they habitually took adequate breakfasts (AB) (ie, more than 20% of daily energy being provided by this meal) or inadequate breakfasts (IB) (less than 20%). However, AB subjects achieved better reasoning scores in the SAT-1 test.

Conclusions: The normal breakfast habits of schoolchildren should be taken into account when studying diet–mental function relationships, even when studying well-nourished populations.

Sponsorship: This study was performed with help from Danone España S.A.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Benton D & Parker P (1998): Breakfast blood glucose and cognition. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 67, S772–S778.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benton D & Sargent J (1992): Breakfast blood glucose and memory. Biol. Psychol. 33, 207–210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benton D, Slater O & Donohoe RT (2001): The influence of breakfast and a snack on psychological functioning. Physiol. Behav. 74, 559–571.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chandler AM, Walker SP, Connolly K & Grantham-McGregor SM (1995): School breakfast improves verbal fluency in undernourished Jamaican children. J. Nutr. 125, 894–900.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craft S, Zallen G & Baker LD (1992): Glucose and memory in mild senile dementia of the Alzheimer type. J. Clin. Exp. Neuropsychol. 14, 253–267.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Departamento de Nutrición (1994): Tablas de Ingestas Recomendadas de Energía y Nutrientes para la Población Española. [Tables of recommended intakes of energy and nutrients for the Spanish population.] Departamento de Nutrición, Madrid, Spain.

  • Frost Andersen L, Lande B, Botten G, Larsen H & Bjorneboe GE (1995): Scientific data on breakfast and cognitive function among children and adolescents. Scan. J. Nur. 39, 73–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geisler MW & Polich J (1992): P300 food consumption and memory performance. Psychophysiology 29, 76–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godina-Zarfl B & Elmadfa I (1994): Differences of systemic bias of nutrient intake measured by 24-hour recall and 7-day records. In New Aspects of Nutritional Status, eds. JC Somogy, I Elmadfa & P Walter. Karger: Basel. Bibl Nutr Dieta 51, 37–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green MW, Elliman NA & Rogers PJ (1995): Lack of effect of short-term fasting on cogntive function. J. Psychiatr. Res. 29, 245–253.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Instituto de Nutrición (CSIC) (1994): Tablas de Composición de Alimentos españoles. (Spanish Food Composition Tables). Madrid: Instituto de Nutrición.

  • Kleinman RE, Hall S, Green H, Korzec-Ramirez D, Patton K, Pagano ME & Murphy JM (2002): Diet, breakfast, and academic performance in children. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 46 (suppl 1), 24–30.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez F, Salcedo F, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Martinez V, Dominguez ML & Torrijos R (2002): Obesity prevalence and tracking of body mass index after a 6 years follow up study in children and adolescents: the Cuenca Study, Spain. Med. Clin. (Barc). 119, 327–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mur le Frenne L, Fleta J & Moreno L (1994): Ingesta de alimentos a lo largo del día en niños zaragozanos. Nutr. Clin. 14, 19–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navia B, Requejo AM, Ortega RM, López-Sobaler AM, Quintas ME, Andrés P, Redondo MR & Rivas T (1997): The relationship between breakfast and whole diet energy profiles in a group of preschool children. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 41, 299–306.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega R, Requejo AM, Redondo MR, López-Sobaler AM, Andrés P, Ortega A, Gaspar MJ, Quintas E & Navia B (1996): Influence of the intake of fortified breakfast cereals on dietary habits and nutritional status of Spanish schoolchildren. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 40, 146–156.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega RM, Redondo MR, Zamora MJ, López-Sobaler A & Andrés P (1995b): Eating behaviour and energy and nutrient intake in overweight/obese and normal-weight Spanish elderly. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 39, 371–378.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega RM, Requejo AM, Andrés P, Ortega A, Redondo R, López-Sobaler AM, Navia B, Quintas E & López-Bonilla D (1995a): Tendencias de consumo de alimentos en niños en función de sus hábitos de desayuno. Nutr. Clin. XV, 69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortega RM, Requejo AM, López-Sobaler AM, Andrés P, Navia B, Perea JM & Robles F (2002): Cognitive function in elderly people is influenced by vitamin E status. J. Nutr. 132, 2065–2068.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega RM, Requejo AM, López–Sobaler AM, Quintas ME, Andrés P, Redondo MR, Navia B, López-Bonilla MD & Rivas T (1998a): Differences in the breakfast habits of overweight/obese and normal weight schoolchildren. Int. J. Vitam. Nutr. Res. 68, 125–132.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega RM, Requejo AM, Navia B, López-Sobaler AM, Quintas ME, Andrés P, Redondo MR, López-Bonilla MD & Rivas T (1998b): The relationship between the consumption of an inadequate breakfast and energy profile imbalance in preschool children. Nutr. Res. 18, 703–712.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Owens DS, Parker PY & Benton D (1997): Blood glucose influences mood following demanding cognitive tasks. Physiol. Behav. 62, 471–478.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perales CG, Heresi E, Pizarro F & Colomo M (1996): Cognitive functions of school children with normal IQ and histories of severe and early malnutrition. Arch. Latinoam. Nutr. 6, 282–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollitt E (1995): Does breakfast make a difference in school? J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 39, 73–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollitt E, Lewis N, Garza C & Schulman RJ . (1982): Fasting and cognitive function. J. Psychiatr. Res. 17, 169–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Redondo MR, Ortega RM, López-Sobaler AM, Quintas ME, Zamora MJ, Andrés P & Encinas-Sotillos A (1996): Differences in breakfast habits between institutionalized and independent elderly Spanish people. Int. J. Vitamin Nutr. Res. 66, 363–370.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Requejo AM, Ortega RM, López-Sobaler AM, Quintas ME, Andrés P, Redondo MR, Izquierdo M, Navia B & Rivas T (1998): Valeur nutritionnelle du petit déjeuner et composition de l'alimentation quotidienne chez des écoliers de Madrid. Cah. Nutr. Diet. 33, 41–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sichert-Hellert W, Kersting M & Schoch G (1998): Underreporting of energy intake in 1 to 18 old German children and adolescents. Z. Ernahrungswiss. 37, 242–251.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strain JJ, Robson PJ, Livingstone MBE, Primrose ED, Savage JM, Cran GW & Boreham CAG (1994): Estimates of food and macronutrient intake in a random sample of Northern Ireland adolescents. Br. J. Nutr. 72, 343–352.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thurstone LL & Thurstone TG (1954): Technical Supplement for the SRA Primary Mental Abilities for Ages 7 to 11. Chicago; Science Research Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaisman N, Voet H, Akivis A & Vakil E (1996): Effect of breakfast timing on the cognitive functions of elementary school students. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 150, 1089–1092.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vermorel M, Bitar A, Vernet J, Verdier E & Coudert J (2003): The extent to which breakfast covers the morning energy expenditure of adolescents with varying levels of physical activity. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 57, 310–315.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (1976): Methodology of Nutritional Surveillance. Report of a joint FAO/WHO/ONU expert consultation. Technical Report Series 53, p 20. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO.

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (1985): Energy and Protein Requirements. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/ONU Expert Consultation. Technical Report Series no. 724, pp 71–80. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO.

  • Wyon DP, Abrahamsson L, Jarrtelius M & Fletcher RJ (1997): An experimental study of the effect of energy intake at breakfast on the test performance of 10-year-old children in school. Int. J. Food. Sci. Nutr. 48, 5–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain

    A M López-Sobaler, R M Ortega, M E Quintas, B Navia & A M Requejo

Authors
  1. A M López-Sobaler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R M Ortega
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M E Quintas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B Navia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A M Requejo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Guarantor: AM López-Sobaler.

Contributors: AMLS, RMO and AMR were involved in the study design, and RMO and AMR were the principal investigators. AMLS, EQ and BN conducted the study. Data analysis was carried out by AMLS. All investigators were involved in discussions on data interpretation. This paper was written by AMLS with contribution from RMO.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A M López-Sobaler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

López-Sobaler, A., Ortega, R., Quintas, M. et al. Relationship between habitual breakfast and intellectual performance (logical reasoning) in well-nourished schoolchildren of Madrid (Spain). Eur J Clin Nutr 57 (Suppl 1), S49–S53 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601815

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601815

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links