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

Reyna Sámano, Carmen Hernández-Chávez, Gabriela Chico-Barba, Armando Córdova-Barrios, Mayela Morales-del-Olmo, Hortensia Sordo-Figuero, Miguel Hernández, Carmen Merino-Palacios, Lucero Cervantes-Zamora and Hugo Martínez-Rojano
Additional contact information
Reyna Sámano: Departamento de Nutrición y Bioprogramación, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Secretaría de Salud, Montes Urales 800, Miguel Hidalgo, Lomas Virreyes, Ciudad de México CP 11000, México
Carmen Hernández-Chávez: Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Secretaría de Salud, Montes Urales 800, Miguel Hidalgo, Lomas Virreyes, Ciudad de México CP 11000, México
Gabriela Chico-Barba: Departamento de Nutrición y Bioprogramación, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Secretaría de Salud, Montes Urales 800, Miguel Hidalgo, Lomas Virreyes, Ciudad de México CP 11000, México
Armando Córdova-Barrios: Coordinación de Psicología, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Secretaría de Salud, Montes Urales 800, Miguel Hidalgo, Lomas Virreyes, Ciudad de México CP 11000, México
Mayela Morales-del-Olmo: Universidad del Valle de México-Chapultepec, Avenida Observatorio 400, 16 de Septiembre, Ciudad de México CP 11810, México
Hortensia Sordo-Figuero: Universidad del Valle de México-Chapultepec, Avenida Observatorio 400, 16 de Septiembre, Ciudad de México CP 11810, México
Miguel Hernández: Universidad del Valle de México-Chapultepec, Avenida Observatorio 400, 16 de Septiembre, Ciudad de México CP 11810, México
Carmen Merino-Palacios: Universidad del Valle de México-Chapultepec, Avenida Observatorio 400, 16 de Septiembre, Ciudad de México CP 11810, México
Lucero Cervantes-Zamora: Universidad del Valle de México-Chapultepec, Avenida Observatorio 400, 16 de Septiembre, Ciudad de México CP 11810, México
Hugo Martínez-Rojano: Departamento de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón s/n, Colonia Casco de Santo Tomas, Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo, Ciudad de México CP 11340, México

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 15, 1-11

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.

Keywords: cognitive interference; breakfast; Stroop; young adults; university students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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