Clinical trial NCT02082444: Cognition Intervention Study PLUS (CogniDO PLUS)
Official title: Cognition Intervention Study PLUS (CogniDO PLUS): Short-term Effects of Lunch on Children's Executive Cognitive Functions
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Having Lunch
Omitting Lunch
Lead sponsor: Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Dortmund
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2014-03-10
Enrollment: 193
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 10
Maximum age (years): 13
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER

Brief summary: Major aim of the Cognition Intervention Study Dortmund (CogniDo) was to add scientifically proven insights into cognitive effects of lunch to the existing recommendations for school meals in Germany. The Cognition Intervention Study Dortmund PLUS ties up to that aim. As an enhancement of CogniDo this study investigates the short-term effects of having school lunch versus skipping it on children's executive cognitive functions in the afternoon. The study was conducted in a comprehensive school in Gelsenkirchen (Germany) and included 215 children.

Detailed description: Because of cerebral particularities, children may react highly sensitive to short-term variations of nutrient supply. Therefore, an optimised composition of meals at favourable mealtime should be considered for optimal cognitive performance. The increasing implementation of all-day schools in Germany requires the children's catering for lunch at school. However, the number of 'meal skippers' is increasing among children and adolescents. Thus, the effect of skipping lunch at school on cognitive functioning is examined in this experimental cross-over trial. As prior intake of food can have an influence on the physiological effect of test meal, the children's dietary intake in the mid-morning is standardized. The intervention is integrated in everyday school life:

9.15 a.m. standardized snack within the frame of the regular break, 9.45 a.m. to 12.25 p.m. everyday school life, 12.25 p.m. either lunch (control) or water as a beverage (intervention of 'skipping meal'), 12.45 p.m. to 1.15 p.m. regular lunch break, 1.15 p.m. computerized tests of executive cognitive functioning, 2 p.m. lunch for the 'skipping meal'-group. Parameters of cognition with relevance to everyday school life are measured by a computerized test program developed by the Institute of Working Learning and Aging (Institut für Arbeiten Lernen Altern, ALA). Usual eating behaviour, sleep behaviour, physical activity and parental education were determined as control variables by questionnaires for children, parents. Migration background was requested from teachers. Body Mass Index was calculated based on measured height and weight.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

All fifth and sixth grade students of Gesamtschule Berger Feld with the consent of parents and child

Exclusion Criteria:

Metabolic diseases, epilepsy or special diet

Primary outcomes:
measure: • Shifting
timeFrame: Participants were tested twice with one week wash out (1h after having/skipping lunch)
measure: • updating
timeFrame: Participants were tested twice with one week wash out (1h after having/skipping lunch)
measure: • inhibition
timeFrame: Participants were tested twice with one week wash out (1h after having/skipping lunch)
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Dortmund
country: Germany
facility: Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Dortmund
Study officials:
References: