1
|
Ober P, Poulain T, Meigen C, Spielau U, Sobek C, Kiess W, Igel U, Lipek T, Vogel M. Modifiable factors influencing attention performance in healthy children: insights from a comprehensive school nutrition study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1629. [PMID: 38898432 PMCID: PMC11186167 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19059-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is inconclusive evidence for the effects of various leisure activities on attention performance in children. The literature reports inconsistent associations between activities such as physical activities or media use. To date, no study has thoroughly examined the various factors influencing attentional performance in a larger cohort of healthy children. This study aims to close this research gap. METHODS From 2018 to 2019, the Leipzig School Nutrition Study collected data from 1215 children and their families. The children report their dietary behavior (using CoCu- Questionnaire), especially their participation in school lunch and their breakfast habits, through a paper questionnaire. Furthermore, attention performance was assessed using a validated test (FAIR-2) at school. Data on physical activity, media consumption, family eating habits and socio-economic status (SES) were collected from parents using questionnaires. Associations between attention and influencing factors were estimated using hierarchical linear regression. Analyses were adjusted for age, SES, and school type. RESULTS Attending upper secondary schools (ßadj= 23.6, p < 0.001) and having a higher SES (ß= 1.28, p < 0.001) was associated with higher attention performance. Children doing leisure-time sports (ßadj= 4.18, p = 0.046) or reading books for at least one hour/weekday showed better attention performance (ßadj= 3.8, p = 0.040). Attention performance was also better in children having no electronic devices in the bedroom (ßadj= 13.0, p = 0.005) and in children whose parents limited their children's Internet access (ßadj= 5.2, p = 0.012). We did not find any association between nutritional habits and attention performance. CONCLUSIONS We found that fostering modifiable habits such as reading and physical activity could enhance attention performance. These findings have substantial implications for the development of prevention and intervention programs that aim to improve attention in schoolchildren. It is important to note, however, that social status as a hardly modifiable factor also impacts attention performance. Therefore, interventions should address personal habits in a systemic approach considering the child's social status. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study is retrospectively registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00017317, registration: 05-29-2019).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peggy Ober
- LIFE Child - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB)Adiposity Diseases, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Tanja Poulain
- LIFE Child - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christof Meigen
- LIFE Child - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Spielau
- Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB)Adiposity Diseases, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carolin Sobek
- LIFE Child - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland Kiess
- LIFE Child - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Igel
- LIFE Child - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Applied Social Science, University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, 99085, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Tobias Lipek
- Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB)Adiposity Diseases, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mandy Vogel
- LIFE Child - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Pediatric Research (CPL), Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kognition: Einflüsse von Essen, Trinken und Bewegung. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00112-022-01539-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
3
|
Drozdowska A, Sinningen K, Falkenstein M, Rudolf H, Libuda L, Buyken AE, Lücke T, Kersting M. Impact of lunch with carbohydrates differing in glycemic index on children's cognitive functioning in the late postprandial phase: a randomized crossover study. Eur J Nutr 2021; 61:1637-1647. [PMID: 34902050 PMCID: PMC8921027 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-021-02766-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Studies about effects of lunch dietary Glycemic Index (GI) on cognition of schoolchildren are scarce. Our previous CogniDo GI study found no changes of cognition in the early postprandial phase after consumption of two rice types with medium vs. high dietary GI for lunch (i.e., 45 min after starting lunch). This study investigated whether the dietary GI of lunch has an impact on cognition of schoolchildren in the late postprandial phase, 90 min after lunch. Methods A randomized, 2 × 2 crossover intervention study was conducted at a comprehensive school with 5th and 6th grade students. Participants (n = 212) were randomly assigned to either sequence 1 or 2. In the first period, participants of sequence 1 received a dish with high GI rice (GI: 79), those of sequence 2 with medium GI rice (GI: 64)—in the second period, 1 week later, vice versa. Computer-based cognitive testing was performed 90 min after lunch examining tonic alertness, visual search and task switching, and working memory. Treatment effects and treatment effects adjusted for estimated lunch glycemic load (GL) were analyzed using a linear mixed model. Results The selected cognitive parameters were not affected by the GI of lunch 90 min after lunch, neither after intention-to-treat nor in the per-protocol analysis. Adjustment for GL also did not change results. Conclusion The present study revealed no notable differences after the consumption of two rice types with medium vs. high dietary GI for lunch in children’s cognitive function in the late postprandial phase, 90 min after lunch. Clinical trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00013597); date of registration: 16/04/2018, retrospectively registered. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-021-02766-y.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alina Drozdowska
- Research Department of Child Nutrition, University Hospital of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Alexandrinenstraße 5, 44791, Bochum, Germany
| | - Kathrin Sinningen
- Research Department of Child Nutrition, University Hospital of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Alexandrinenstraße 5, 44791, Bochum, Germany.
| | | | - Henrik Rudolf
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Lars Libuda
- Paderborn University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, Nutrition Sciences, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Anette E Buyken
- Paderborn University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, Public Health Nutrition, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Thomas Lücke
- Research Department of Child Nutrition, University Hospital of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Alexandrinenstraße 5, 44791, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mathilde Kersting
- Research Department of Child Nutrition, University Hospital of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Alexandrinenstraße 5, 44791, Bochum, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Water Consumption during a School Day and Children's Short-Term Cognitive Performance: The CogniDROP Randomized Intervention Trial. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12051297. [PMID: 32370147 PMCID: PMC7282257 DOI: 10.3390/nu12051297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is still little research examining the relationship between water consumption in school and specific cognitive performance. The aim of this cluster-randomized intervention CogniDROP trial was to investigate the short-term effects of drinking water during the morning on executive functions. The participants were from the 5th and 6th grade of a comprehensive school in Germany (14 classes, n = 250, 61.6% boys). The classes were randomly divided into an intervention group (an education on healthy drinking behavior and a promotion of water consumption) and a control group. A battery of computerized tasks (Switch Task, 2-Back Task, Corsi Block-Tapping Task and Flanker Task) was used to test executive functions. Urine color and thirst were evaluated to check the hydration level. Physical activity over the past 24 h was measured using GT3X ActiGraph. A non-linear relationship was observed between the amount of drinking water and executive performance. Consuming water up to 1000 mL (or up to 50% of Total Water Intake) had benefits during memory tasks. Urine color and number of steps on the study day correlated with water consumed. The results suggest that a water-friendly environment supports school-aged children in adequate water intake resulting in better cognitive performance, especially short-term memory.
Collapse
|
5
|
Short-term effects of carbohydrates differing in glycemic index (GI) consumed at lunch on children's cognitive function in a randomized crossover study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2020; 74:757-764. [PMID: 32203229 PMCID: PMC8626315 DOI: 10.1038/s41430-020-0600-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background Intervention studies suggest an influence of breakfast dietary glycemic index (GI) on children’s cognition. The Cognition Intervention Study Dortmund-GI-I study examined whether lunch dietary GI might have short-term effects on selected cognitive parameters. Methods A randomized crossover study was performed at a comprehensive school on 2 test days. One hundred and eighty-nine participants (5th and 6th grade) were randomly assigned to one of the two sequences, medium-high GI (m-hGI) or high-medium GI (h-mGI), following block randomization. In the first period, one group received a dish containing hGI rice (GI: 86) ad libitum, the other mGI rice (GI: 62)—1 week later, in the second period, vice versa. Tonic alertness, task switching, and working memory updating were tested with a computerized test battery 45 min after beginning of lunch break. Treatment effects were estimated using the t test for normally distributed data or the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for non-normally distributed data. Results The crossover approach revealed no effects of lunch dietary GI on the tested cognitive parameters in the early afternoon. However, we determined carryover effects for two parameters, and therefore analyzed only data of the first period. The reaction time of the two-back task (working memory updating) was faster (p = 0.001) and the count of commission errors in the alertness task was lower (p = 0.04) in the hGI group. Conclusion No evidence of short-term effects of lunch dietary GI on cognition of schoolchildren was found. Potential positive effects on single parameters of working memory updating and tonic alertness favoring hGI rice need to be verified.
Collapse
|
6
|
Executive function and dietary intake in youth: A systematic review of the literature. Appetite 2019; 139:197-212. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
7
|
González-Garrido AA, Brofman-Epelbaum JJ, Gómez-Velázquez FR, Balart-Sánchez SA, Ramos-Loyo J. Skipping Breakfast Affects the Early Steps of Cognitive Processing. J PSYCHOPHYSIOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1027/0269-8803/a000214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. It has been generally accepted that skipping breakfast adversely affects cognition, mainly disturbing the attentional processes. However, the effects of short-term fasting upon brain functioning are still unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effect of skipping breakfast on cognitive processing by studying the electrical brain activity of young healthy individuals while performing several working memory tasks. Accordingly, the behavioral results and event-related brain potentials (ERPs) of 20 healthy university students (10 males) were obtained and compared through analysis of variances (ANOVAs), during the performance of three n-back working memory (WM) tasks in two morning sessions on both normal (after breakfast) and 12-hour fasting conditions. Significantly fewer correct responses were achieved during fasting, mainly affecting the higher WM load task. In addition, there were prolonged reaction times with increased task difficulty, regardless of breakfast intake. ERP showed a significant voltage decrement for N200 and P300 during fasting, while the amplitude of P200 notably increased. The results suggest skipping breakfast disturbs earlier cognitive processing steps, particularly attention allocation, early decoding in working memory, and stimulus evaluation, and this effect increases with task difficulty.
Collapse
|
8
|
Barfoot KL, May G, Lamport DJ, Ricketts J, Riddell PM, Williams CM. The effects of acute wild blueberry supplementation on the cognition of 7-10-year-old schoolchildren. Eur J Nutr 2018; 58:2911-2920. [PMID: 30327868 PMCID: PMC6768899 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-018-1843-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Previous evidence suggests consumption of flavonoids, a sub-class of polyphenols, is associated with improved cognitive function across the lifespan. In particular, acute intervention of a flavonoid-rich wild blueberry (WBB) drink has been shown to boost executive function (EF), short-term memory and mood 2–6 h post-consumption in 7–10-year-old children. However, confirmation of the aspects of EF and memory susceptible to WBB ingestion is required, particularly during childhood, a critical period of neurological development. In addition, the child literature on berry flavonoid supplementation and cognition highlights the potential for such interventions to elicit positive benefits to real-world educational scenarios, such as reading, a complex ability which relies upon aspects of cognition already known to improve following WBB. Methods Here we examined which aspects of EF and memory are susceptible to acute WBB, as well as investigating whether acute WBB could further benefit reading ability. Fifty-four healthy children, aged 7–10 years, consumed a 200 ml WBB drink (253 mg anthocyanins) or a matched placebo according to a randomised, single-blind, parallel-groups design. Verbal memory (Auditory Verbal Learning Task; AVLT), EF (Modified Attention Network Task; MANT), and reading efficiency (Test of Word Reading Efficiency-2; TOWRE-2) were assessed at baseline and 2 h post-consumption. Results For the MANT, significantly quicker RTs were observed for WBB participants when compared to placebo participants on 120 ms trials, without cost to accuracy. Furthermore, WBB participants showed enhanced verbal memory performance on the AVLT, recalling more words than placebo participants on short delay and memory acquisition measures post-consumption. Despite these significant improvements in cognitive performance, no significant effects were observed for reading measures. Conclusion Consumption of WBB was found to significantly improve memory and attentional aspects of EF. This indicates that a flavonoid-rich blueberry product, equivalent to 240 g or 1½ cups of fresh blueberries can provide acute cognitive benefits in children. These findings support accumulating evidence that flavonoid-rich products are beneficial for healthy brain function, particularly during critical developmental periods. However, the lack of findings relating to reading ability suggested acute WBB may not be sufficient to elicit benefits to reading. Chronic supplementation and other more sensitive reading measures should be considered for examining the effects of WBB on such a complex skill in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie L Barfoot
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK
| | - Gabrielle May
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK
- School of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, London, UK
| | - Daniel J Lamport
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK
| | - Jessie Ricketts
- School of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, London, UK
| | - Patricia M Riddell
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK
| | - Claire M Williams
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK.
| |
Collapse
|