Breakfast Protein: Why Does It Matter?
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Approximately 27% of Canadian children are overweight or obese, and overweight children are at risk for becoming overweight adults. Dietary protein, particularly that consumed at breakfast, may have benefits for the metabolism and optimize body composition. Paradoxically, consumption of higher animal:plant protein may increase body mass index (BMI). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine associations between total protein and animal:plant protein consumed at breakfast and body composition in 59 preschool-aged children enrolled in the Guelph Family Health Study. Researchers analyzed three-day food records and measured the percentage of fat mass (%FM). Associations between protein consumption at breakfast and body composition, adjusted for age, sex, and sibling effect, were assessed using random effects models. Data revealed that every gram of total protein consumed was associated with 0.18 cm lower waist circumference (WC). There was no association with the %FM. Conversely, for every 1 unit increase in the animal:plant protein intake, WC and %FM increased by 0.83 cm, and 0.33%, respectively. There was no significant association between total protein consumption and waist-to-height ratio, or between animal:plant protein and BMI score. These data suggest that breakfasts higher in total protein are associated with lower WC, however, those with a higher animal:plant protein are associated with greater WC and FM%.