Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Jan 9;20(2):1181.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20021181.

Breakfast Quality and Insulin Resistance in Spanish Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study

María Dolores Salas-González  1 , María Del Carmen Lozano-Estevan  1 , Aránzazu Aparicio  1   2 , Laura M Bermejo  1   2 , Viviana Loria-Kohen  1 , Rosa M Ortega  1   2 , Ana M López-Sobaler  1   2
Affiliations

Breakfast Quality and Insulin Resistance in Spanish Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study

María Dolores Salas-González et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Breakfast has traditionally been considered one of the most important meals of the day; however, there is little evidence for the influence of breakfast quality and insulin resistance (IR). This study aimed to assess the quality of breakfast in a group of schoolchildren, and its association with IR. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 852 children (8−13 years) was carried out. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin and anthropometric parameters were measured. A three-day dietary record was used to assess their diet and to calculate the Breakfast Quality Index (BQI). The sample was divided into tertiles according to the BQI (tertile 3: better breakfast quality). The homeostatic model was used to assess insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and IR was defined as HOMA-IR > 3.16. Results: The prevalence of IR was 5.2%. The mean BQI score was 4.50 ± 1.25, and boys had lower scores than girls. Children in the BQI tertile 3 had a better global diet quality. In boys, being in the BQI tertile 3 was associated with a lower risk of IR (OR [95% CI]: 0.10 [0.01−0.77], p < 0.05). Conclusions: A higher-quality breakfast was associated with better overall diet quality and a lower risk of IR, especially in boys.

Keywords: breakfast; breakfast quality; children; insulin resistance.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the selection process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Affenito S.G. Breakfast: A Missed Opportunity. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 2007;107:565–569. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2007.01.011. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Vereecken C., Dupuy M., Rasmussen M., Kelly C., Nansel T.R., Al Sabbah H., Baldassari D., Jordan M.D., Maes L., Niclasen B.V.L., et al. Breakfast Consumption and Its Socio-Demographic and Lifestyle Correlates in Schoolchildren in 41 Countries Participating in the HBSC Study. Int. J. Public Health. 2009;54((Suppl. S2)):180–190. doi: 10.1007/s00038-009-5409-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hallström L., Labayen I., Ruiz J.R., Patterson E., Vereecken C.A., Breidenassel C., Gottrand F., Huybrechts I., Manios Y., Mistura L., et al. Breakfast Consumption and CVD Risk Factors in European Adolescents: The HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study. Public Health Nutr. 2013;16:1296–1305. doi: 10.1017/S1368980012000973. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Monzani A., Ricotti R., Caputo M., Solito A., Archero F., Bellone S., Prodam F. A Systematic Review of the Association of Skipping Breakfast with Weight and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents. What Should We Better Investigate in the Future? Nutrients. 2019;11:387. doi: 10.3390/nu11020387. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Aesan-Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición. [(accessed on 7 October 2022)]. Available online: https://www.aesan.gob.es/AECOSAN/web/nutricion/detalle/aladino_2019.htm.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources