Association Between Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Cognitive Performance Among Adolescent Students From Underdeveloped Cities in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study

Overview

Journal Int J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Oct 23

PMID 39439747

Authors

Joao Victor Laurindo Dos Santos

Ingrid Sofia Vieira de Melo

Clara Andrezza Crisostomo Bezerra Costa

Layanne Cabral de Almeida

Dafiny Rodrigues Silva

Debora Cavalcante Ferro

Deborah Tenorio Costa Paula

Mateus de Lima Macena

Nassib Bezerra Bueno

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: The association between ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumption and cognitive performance needs to be better characterized in adolescents, especially in low-income settings, where the cost of human capital is high. This study investigated the association between cognitive performance and UPF in adolescents from the countryside of the Brazilian Northeast.

Methods: Adolescents (15-18 years old) from three public high schools were included. Food intake was assessed using three 24-hour dietary recalls. The classification of foods as UPF was determined according to the Nova classification. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Non-Verbal General Intelligence Test.

Results: 116 adolescents were included, of which 50 (43.1%) showed low cognitive performance. The average energy intake was 1973.5 kcal, with 24.2% coming from UPF. Participants with low cognitive performance consumed 26.5% (95% CI: [22.2; 30.7]%) of daily energy intake from UPF compared to 22.5% ([18.8; 26.2]%) of those with medium-high cognitive performance ( = 0.17), without differences in energy and macronutrient intake.

Conclusion: Despite similar UPF consumption compared to the Brazilian average, no association was found between UPF consumption and cognitive performance in this low-income adolescent sample.

Citing Articles

Investigating the Relationship Between Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Academic Performance in the Adolescent Population: The EHDLA Study.

Lopez-Gil J, Cisneros-Vasquez E, Olivares-Arancibia J, Yanez-Sepulveda R, Gutierrez-Espinoza H Nutrients. 2025; 17(3).

PMID: 39940382 PMC: 11819819. DOI: 10.3390/nu17030524.

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