title: Dietary patterns and cognitive ability among 12- to 13 year-old adolescents in Selangor, Malaysia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to identify dietary patterns and determine the relationship between dietary patterns and cognitive ability among 12- to 13 year-old Malay adolescents in the urban areas of Gombak district in Selangor, Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on sociodemographic background were obtained from parents. Height and weight were measured and BMI-for-age was determined. Adolescents were interviewed on their habitual dietary intakes using a semi-quantitative FFQ. Cognitive ability was assessed using the Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of Ability in a one-to-one manner. Dietary patterns were constructed using principal component analysis based on thirty-eight food groups of the semi-quantitative FFQ.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban secondary public schools in the district of Gombak in Selangor, Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Malay adolescents aged 12 to 13 years (n 416).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean general cognitive ability score was 101·8 (sd 12·4). Four major dietary patterns were identified and labelled as 'refined-grain pattern', 'snack-food pattern', 'plant-based food pattern' and 'high-energy food pattern'. These dietary patterns explained 39·1 % of the variance in the habitual dietary intakes of the adolescents. The refined-grain pattern was negatively associated with processing speed, which is a construct of general cognitive ability. The high-energy food pattern was negatively associated with general cognitive ability, perceptual reasoning and processing speed. Monthly household income and parents' educational attainment were positively associated with all of the cognitive measures. In multivariate analysis, only the high-energy food pattern was found to contribute significantly towards general cognitive ability after controlling for socio-economic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumption of foods in the high-energy food pattern contributed towards general cognitive ability after controlling for socio-economic status. However, the contribution was small.
authors: 1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Universiti Putra Malaysia,43400 UPM Serdang,Selangor,Malaysia.
authors: Abdul Razak
authors: AR
authors: Nurliyana
authors: 1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Universiti Putra Malaysia,43400 UPM Serdang,Selangor,Malaysia.
authors: Mohd Taib
authors: MT
authors: Mohd Nasir
authors: 1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Universiti Putra Malaysia,43400 UPM Serdang,Selangor,Malaysia.
authors: Mohd Shariff
authors: MS
authors: Zalilah
authors: 2Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology,Universiti Putra Malaysia,Serdang,Selangor,Malaysia.
authors: Abdullah
authors: A
authors: Rohani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D014504:Urban Health / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Adolescents; Cognitive ability; Dietary patterns; Malaysia; Principal component analysis