title: Higher dietary diversity is related to better visual and auditory sustained attention.
abstract: Attention is a complex cognitive function that is necessary for learning, for following social norms of behaviour and for effective performance of responsibilities and duties. It is especially important in sensitive occupations requiring sustained attention. Improvement of dietary diversity (DD) is recognised as an important factor in health promotion, but its association with sustained attention is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the association between auditory and visual sustained attention and DD. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 400 women aged 20-50 years who attended sports clubs at Tehran Municipality. Sustained attention was evaluated on the basis of the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test using Integrated Visual and Auditory software. A single 24-h dietary recall questionnaire was used for DD assessment. Dietary diversity scores (DDS) were determined using the FAO guidelines. The mean visual and auditory sustained attention scores were 40·2 (sd 35·2) and 42·5 (sd 38), respectively. The mean DDS was 4·7 (sd 1·5). After adjusting for age, education years, physical activity, energy intake and BMI, mean visual and auditory sustained attention showed a significant increase as the quartiles of DDS increased (P=0·001). In addition, the mean subscales of attention, including auditory consistency and vigilance, visual persistence, visual and auditory focus, speed, comprehension and full attention, increased significantly with increasing DDS (P<0·05). In conclusion, higher DDS is associated with better visual and auditory sustained attention.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Community Nutrition,School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Hojatdost Street,Naderi Street,Keshavarz Blv.,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shiraseb
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Community Nutrition,School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Hojatdost Street,Naderi Street,Keshavarz Blv.,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Fereydoun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siassi
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Community Medicine,School of Public Health,Alborz University of Medical Sciences,Edari,Taleghani Blv.,Taleghani Square,Karaj,Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qorbani
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Community Nutrition,School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Hojatdost Street,Naderi Street,Keshavarz Blv.,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Gity
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sotoudeh
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Psychology,Tehran University,Chamran Street,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rostami
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Community Nutrition,School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Hojatdost Street,Naderi Street,Keshavarz Blv.,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Narmaki
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Community Nutrition,School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Hojatdost Street,Naderi Street,Keshavarz Blv.,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Parvaneh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yavari
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Community Nutrition,School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Hojatdost Street,Naderi Street,Keshavarz Blv.,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Mohadeseh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aghasi
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Community Nutrition,School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Hojatdost Street,Naderi Street,Keshavarz Blv.,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Osman Mohammed
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Shaibu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005518:Food Preferences; D006293:Health Promotion; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: CPT Continuous Performance Test; DD dietary diversity; DDS dietary diversity scores; Dietary diversity; IVA Integrated; MET metabolic equivalent task; Sustained attention; Visual and Auditory; Visual and auditory sustained attention; Women