Adolescents with a Favorable Mediterranean-Style-Based Pattern Show Higher Cognitive and Academic Achievement: A Cluster Analysis—The Cogni-Action Project
A Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has emerged as a crucial dietary choice, not only in attenuating various adolescents’ metabolic health issues but it has also been associated with improved cognitive and academic achievement. However, few studies have established patterns of food consumption linked to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/5/608 |
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| author | Humberto Peña-Jorquera Ricardo Martínez-Flores Juan Pablo Espinoza-Puelles José Francisco López-Gil Gerson Ferrari Rafael Zapata-Lamana Mara Cristina Lofrano-Prado Leslie Landaeta-Díaz Igor Cigarroa Samuel Durán-Agüero Carlos Cristi-Montero |
| author_facet | Humberto Peña-Jorquera Ricardo Martínez-Flores Juan Pablo Espinoza-Puelles José Francisco López-Gil Gerson Ferrari Rafael Zapata-Lamana Mara Cristina Lofrano-Prado Leslie Landaeta-Díaz Igor Cigarroa Samuel Durán-Agüero Carlos Cristi-Montero |
| author_sort | Humberto Peña-Jorquera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has emerged as a crucial dietary choice, not only in attenuating various adolescents’ metabolic health issues but it has also been associated with improved cognitive and academic achievement. However, few studies have established patterns of food consumption linked to both cognitive and academic achievement in adolescents living in a developing country with non-Mediterranean-based food. <b>Methods:</b> This cross-sectional study included 1296 Chilean adolescents (50% girls) aged 10–14 years. The MedDiet Quality Index was used to assess adherence to the MedDiet in children and adolescents. Through cluster analysis, four distinct dietary patterns were identified: Western diet (WD = 4.3%); low fruit and vegetables, high-sugar diet (LFV-HSD = 28.2%); low fruit and vegetables, low-sugar diet (LFV-LSD = 42.2%); and the MedDiet (25.3%). A mixed-model analysis was conducted to compare these clusters and their relationships with cognitive and academic achievements. Principal component analysis was performed to identify four primary cognitive domains: working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and fluid reasoning. Academic achievement was determined with five school subjects (Language, English, Mathematics, Science, and History) and included the Academic-PISA score derived from the mean scores in Language, Mathematics, and Science. <b>Results:</b> A marked difference was observed between the four clusters, which was mainly related to the consumption of sugar, ultra-processed foods, fruits, and vegetables. According to cognitive performance, the MedDiet group showed higher performance across all domains than the LFV-HSD, LFV-LSD, and WD groups. Regarding academic achievement, the WD underperformed in all analyses compared to the other groups, while the MedDiet was the unique profile that achieved a positive difference in all academic subjects compared to the WD and LFV-HSD groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings suggest that higher adherence to Mediterranean-style-based patterns and better food quality choices are associated with improved cognitive and academic achievements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:23:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c79b3c4fff6745ee87357cd816947428 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:23:45Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-c79b3c4fff6745ee87357cd8169474282024-03-12T16:51:55ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432024-02-0116560810.3390/nu16050608Adolescents with a Favorable Mediterranean-Style-Based Pattern Show Higher Cognitive and Academic Achievement: A Cluster Analysis—The Cogni-Action ProjectHumberto Peña-Jorquera0Ricardo Martínez-Flores1Juan Pablo Espinoza-Puelles2José Francisco López-Gil3Gerson Ferrari4Rafael Zapata-Lamana5Mara Cristina Lofrano-Prado6Leslie Landaeta-Díaz7Igor Cigarroa8Samuel Durán-Agüero9Carlos Cristi-Montero10IRyS Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2530388, ChileIRyS Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2530388, ChileIRyS Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2530388, ChileOne Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170517, EcuadorFaculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Av. Pedro de Valdivia 425, Providencia 7500912, ChileSchool of Education, Universidad de Concepción, Los Ángeles 4440000, ChileDepartments of Kinesiology and Psychology, California State University, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USAFaculty of Health and Social Sciences, Universidad de las Américas, Santiago 7500975, ChileSchool of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health, Universidad Santo Tomás, Los Ángeles 4440000, ChileSchool of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago 8330106, ChileIRyS Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2530388, ChileA Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has emerged as a crucial dietary choice, not only in attenuating various adolescents’ metabolic health issues but it has also been associated with improved cognitive and academic achievement. However, few studies have established patterns of food consumption linked to both cognitive and academic achievement in adolescents living in a developing country with non-Mediterranean-based food. <b>Methods:</b> This cross-sectional study included 1296 Chilean adolescents (50% girls) aged 10–14 years. The MedDiet Quality Index was used to assess adherence to the MedDiet in children and adolescents. Through cluster analysis, four distinct dietary patterns were identified: Western diet (WD = 4.3%); low fruit and vegetables, high-sugar diet (LFV-HSD = 28.2%); low fruit and vegetables, low-sugar diet (LFV-LSD = 42.2%); and the MedDiet (25.3%). A mixed-model analysis was conducted to compare these clusters and their relationships with cognitive and academic achievements. Principal component analysis was performed to identify four primary cognitive domains: working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and fluid reasoning. Academic achievement was determined with five school subjects (Language, English, Mathematics, Science, and History) and included the Academic-PISA score derived from the mean scores in Language, Mathematics, and Science. <b>Results:</b> A marked difference was observed between the four clusters, which was mainly related to the consumption of sugar, ultra-processed foods, fruits, and vegetables. According to cognitive performance, the MedDiet group showed higher performance across all domains than the LFV-HSD, LFV-LSD, and WD groups. Regarding academic achievement, the WD underperformed in all analyses compared to the other groups, while the MedDiet was the unique profile that achieved a positive difference in all academic subjects compared to the WD and LFV-HSD groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings suggest that higher adherence to Mediterranean-style-based patterns and better food quality choices are associated with improved cognitive and academic achievements.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/5/608nutritionlearningcognitionbrain functionyouthschool |
| spellingShingle | Humberto Peña-Jorquera Ricardo Martínez-Flores Juan Pablo Espinoza-Puelles José Francisco López-Gil Gerson Ferrari Rafael Zapata-Lamana Mara Cristina Lofrano-Prado Leslie Landaeta-Díaz Igor Cigarroa Samuel Durán-Agüero Carlos Cristi-Montero Adolescents with a Favorable Mediterranean-Style-Based Pattern Show Higher Cognitive and Academic Achievement: A Cluster Analysis—The Cogni-Action Project Nutrients nutrition learning cognition brain function youth school |
| title | Adolescents with a Favorable Mediterranean-Style-Based Pattern Show Higher Cognitive and Academic Achievement: A Cluster Analysis—The Cogni-Action Project |
| title_full | Adolescents with a Favorable Mediterranean-Style-Based Pattern Show Higher Cognitive and Academic Achievement: A Cluster Analysis—The Cogni-Action Project |
| title_fullStr | Adolescents with a Favorable Mediterranean-Style-Based Pattern Show Higher Cognitive and Academic Achievement: A Cluster Analysis—The Cogni-Action Project |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adolescents with a Favorable Mediterranean-Style-Based Pattern Show Higher Cognitive and Academic Achievement: A Cluster Analysis—The Cogni-Action Project |
| title_short | Adolescents with a Favorable Mediterranean-Style-Based Pattern Show Higher Cognitive and Academic Achievement: A Cluster Analysis—The Cogni-Action Project |
| title_sort | adolescents with a favorable mediterranean style based pattern show higher cognitive and academic achievement a cluster analysis the cogni action project |
| topic | nutrition learning cognition brain function youth school |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/5/608 |
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