No breakfast at home: association with cardiovascular disease risk factors in childhood

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Limited data exist regarding breakfast consumption and its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This study investigates the relationship between breakfast routine and CVD risk factors in a multinational sample. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Cross-sectional data from eight European countries participating in the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) survey (2007-2008) were used. The sample included children 2 to <10 years of age (n=8863, 51.2% boys). The Mann-Whitney U-test and logistic regression were used to assess CVD risk factors among no breakfast (NBrH), occasional breakfast and daily breakfast at home (DBrH) consumption. RESULTS: Male school-aged NBrH consumers, compared with DBrH consumers, were more likely to be overweight/obese (odds ratio (OR): 1.37, 95% confidence interval (Cl) = 1.05-1.79), to have higher risk for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels lower than 40 mg/dl (OR: 1.69, 95% CI = 1.24-2.30), triglycerides (TG) above 75 mg/dl (OR: 1.65, 95% CI = 1.24-2.19) and sum of skinfolds greater than the 90th percentile (OR: 1.32, 95% CI = 1.0-1.76). Female school-aged NBrH consumers compared with DBrH consumers had a higher risk for waist circumference greater than the 90th percentile (OR: 1.70, 95% CI = 1.14-2.51), HDL cholesterol levels lower than 40 mg/dl (OR: 1.65, 95% CI = 1.23-2.21), TG above 75 mg/dl (OR: 1.65, 95% CI = 1.26-2.17) and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio >3.5 (OR: 1.39, 95% CI = 1.09-1.77). Results remained significant after adjusting for daily physical activity in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) periods (in min/day). Male DBrH consumers, 6 to <10 years of age, had longer daily periods of MVPA compared with NBrH consumers (32.0 +/- 21.4 vs 27.5 +/- 18.8, P < 0.05). For preschoolers, breakfast consumption was negatively associated with CVD risk factors but results of regression models were mostly insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Daily breakfast consumption contributes to controlling school-aged children's weight and lipid profile and promotes higher PA.