title: Breakfast consumption and CVD risk factors in European adolescents: the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between breakfast consumption and CVD risk factors in European adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional. Breakfast consumption was assessed by the statement ‘I often skip breakfast’ and categorized into ‘consumer’, ‘occasional consumer’ and ‘skipper’. Blood pressure, weight, height, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), TAG, insulin and glucose were measured and BMI, TC:HDL-C, LDL-C:HDL-C and homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were calculated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The European Union-funded HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study.
  
  
  METHODS
  European adolescents, aged 12?50–17?49 years, from ten cities within the HELENA study (n 2929, n 925 with blood sample, 53% females).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In males, significant differences across breakfast consumption category (‘consumer’, ‘occasional consumer’ and ‘skipper’) were seen for age, BMI, skinfold thickness, waist circumference, cardiorespiratory fitness, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, TC:HDL-C, LDL-C:HDL-C, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and LDL-C; in females, for cardiorespiratory fitness, skinfold thickness, BMI, insulin and HOMA-IR. In overweight/obese males significant differences were also seen for TC and LDL-C, whereas no differences were observed in non-overweight males or in females regardless of weight status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings among European adolescents confirm previous data indicating that adolescents who regularly consume breakfast have lower body fat content. The results also show that regular breakfast consumption is associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents, and with a healthier cardiovascular profile, especially in males. Eating breakfast regularly may also negate somewhat the effect of excess adiposity on TC and LDL-C, especially in male adolescents.
authors.affiliation: School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Box 883, Mälardalens University, 72123 Västerås, Sweden. lena.hallstrom@mdh.se
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hallström
authors.forename: Idoia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Labayen
authors.forename: Jonatan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Carine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Vereecken
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Breidenassel
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrand
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manios
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mistura
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Widhalm
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kondaki
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sjöström
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D062408:Breakfast; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides