Lit Review- The Association Between Dietary Intake and Academic Achievement

Source: Burrows, T., Goldman, S., Pursey, K., & Lim, R. (2017). Is there an association between dietary intake and academic achievement: a systematic review. Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association, 30(2), 117–140. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12407

LEARN Brief and Infographic Credits: n/a

Overview: 

This meta study on the correlation between nutrition and student performance examined 40 scientific studies that correlated measures between dietary intake and academic achievement.  Researchers examined several categories, including breakfast consumption, intake of junk food/fast food, fish consumption, diets higher in fruit and vegetables, intake of micronutrients, and finally overall diet quality.  The biggest positive finding was the significance of students eating breakfast, as breakfast consumption was positively correlated with academic success in over 12 of the studies.  The largest negative correlation was the intake of junk or fast food.  One study, in particular, found that kindergartners who had one fast food meal per day had lower reading scores by an average of -18 points.  Higher vegetable and fruit intake had a consistently positive correlation with higher academic success.  Four studies found that the intake of micronutrients had a positive impact on student performance, with the most commonly reported micronutrients being folate and iron.  Fish consumption was also associated with higher academic achievement, with one study, in particular, noting a positive difference via a simple shift from no meals with fish to one meal with fish per week.  Finally, overall diet quality itself was also an indicator, indicating the significance of considering students’ overall meal quality.  One interesting finding in overall diet quality included the fact that students achieved greater results when adhering to a more Mediterranean-style diet.

Key Insights:

This meta-study highlights the importance of nutrition for student performance, with breakfast consumption, higher fruit and vegetable intake, micronutrients (particularly folate and iron), and fish consumption positively correlated with academic success. Conversely, the largest negative correlation was found with the intake of junk or fast food.  Eating breakfast was found to be the most significant correlation for positive student outcomes; students also performed better when overall diet quality was improved by promoting a Mediterranean-style diet.

Action Steps: 

Focus not on meeting minimum standards, but on providing students what they need to perform their best every day. Minimizing junk or fast food while promoting fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, and folate or iron rich foods. 

Full Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27599886/