Protein-rich breakfast could enhance cognition, satiety and focus: Danish study

A recent Danish study on the connection between diet and cognition revealed that eating a breakfast high in protein can increase satiety and focus.

“We found that a protein-rich breakfast with skyr (a sour-milk product) and oats increased satiety and concentration in the participants, but it did not reduce the overall energy intake compared to skipping breakfast or eating a carbohydrate-rich breakfast,” stated Mette Hansen, associate professor and PhD at the Department of Public Health, an author of the study.

For three days, the study tracked thirty obese women between the ages of 18 and 30 who had either a breakfast high in protein, a breakfast high in carbohydrates, or no breakfast at all. At luncheon, the women’s energy intake, hormone levels, and sense of satiety were assessed. We also measured their daily calorie intake overall.

A lower body mass index (BMI) has been linked to breakfast eaters in the past, and foods high in protein have generally been found to have a greater satiety impact when compared to diets high in carbohydrates and fat that have the same calorie content.

Therefore, the goal was to determine whether having a high-protein breakfast could help increase satiety throughout the day and consequently lower daily calorie intake.

Nevertheless, Mette Hansen stated that the answer is not so easy: “The results confirm that protein-rich meals increase a sense of satiety, which is positive with regard to preventing weight gain. However, the results also suggest that for this nutritional strategy to be effective, it’s not enough to just eat a protein-rich breakfast.”

“It’s intriguing that there can be such a big difference in the satiety effect of two different meals with the same calorie content. Had the women in the project been allowed to choose the size of the meal themselves, it’s likely that they’d have consumed more food and thereby more calories on the day they were served bread and jam than on the day they were given skyr and oats,” added Hansen.

While the study has yielded valuable insights, the researcher notes that its limitations stem from the fact that only overweight young women were included in the sample. Additionally, because the study is based on observations that were made over a relatively short period of time, it is unclear how long-term dietary changes may impact weight and health.

“We already have new data incoming from a trial where participants received either a high-protein breakfast or a low-protein breakfast. The objective was to study how the different types of breakfast affect body composition and other parameters such as microbiota and cholesterol levels,” mentioned Mette Hansen.