Petit déjeuner, est-ce utile ?

The first physiological function of breakfast is to break nocturnal fasting. It is part of classical hygienic and dietary recommendations, but is it really useful? This work gathers recent data about effects of breakfast on dietary balance of the day and on the following meals, on weight, as well as on some metabolic parameters. Benefits of breakfast are discussed in their mechanisms as well as in their determinants. Effects concerning intellectual performance are also presented and discussed. Finally, the role of breakfast constituents, nutrients and foods, is analysed. Therefore, it is justified to recommend a breakfast and the following content can be proposed: bread and/or high-fibre cereals, dairy product, butter, fruit and drink.