Associations between Dietary Intake and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Scores by Repeated Measurements in School-Age Children

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder in school-age children and adolescents. However, the reported associations between ADHD and single nutrient intake are inconsistent. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between dietary intake changes and the prevalence of ADHD over time with repeat measurements using data from the Children Health and Environment Research (CHEER). To assess changes over time, we used data obtained in 2006 and 2008 (Phases 1 and 2). In this study, there were 2899 children aged 8 years or older in Phase 1 and 2120 children aged 9 years or older in Phase 2 from Korea, and the ADHD scores and dietary intake of 1733 children in Phases 1 and 2 were used in the final analysis. The YN group refers to children whose disease had improved in Phase 2, and the NY group refers to children diagnosed with ADHD in Phase 2. A notable within-group result was the increase in vegetable protein (p = 0.03) in the YN group. A between-group comparison showed that significant changes in nutrient intake could be confirmed most in the NY group, and the YN group tended to have a lower nutrient intake than the NY group. In the correlation of changes in nutrient intake and three subtypes (combined, AD, and HD), the total fat (p = 0.048) and animal protein (p = 0.099) showed a positive correlation with the prevalence of AD. Vegetable iron (p = 0.061 and p = 0.044, respectively), zinc (p = 0.022 and p = 0.007, respectively), vegetable protein (p = 0.074), and calcium (p = 0.057) had inhibitory effects on ADHD and its subtype. In conclusion, management of dietary and nutritional status should be considered to ameliorate ADHD and its subtypes in school-age children, and these relationships require further exploration in other settings.

Nutrition in the Management of ADHD: A Review of Recent Research

“…Data from a prospective nationwide cohort study conducted in Korea were used to investigate the relationship between changes in dietary intake and prevalence of ADHD in 1733 elementary school children with ADHD scores and information on dietary intake, as assessed both at baseline (phase 1) and 2 years later (phase 2) [ 60 ]. A notable finding within the group of children whose ADHD symptoms had improved in phase 2 was an increase in the intake of vegetable protein.…”

O panorama da alimentação da criança com transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade

“…Um dos fatores da progressão do transtorno, é uma dieta ocidental, rica em açúcares, processados, ultraprocessados, consumidos em excesso, podendo causar também várias doenças metabólicas. Uma nutrição com aporte adequado tem uma consequência positiva no desenvolvimento infantil (Ryu et al, 2022). A ingestão de nutrientes que são essenciais como iodo, ferro, zinco, colina, vitaminas do complexo B, ácido fólico e vitamina D tem sua grande importância no desenvolvimento cerebral (Ryu et al, 2022).…”

“…Uma nutrição com aporte adequado tem uma consequência positiva no desenvolvimento infantil (Ryu et al, 2022). A ingestão de nutrientes que são essenciais como iodo, ferro, zinco, colina, vitaminas do complexo B, ácido fólico e vitamina D tem sua grande importância no desenvolvimento cerebral (Ryu et al, 2022).…”

“…A associação do TDAH com uma dieta rica em nutrientes essenciais e fármacos vem demonstrando uma melhora cognitiva da doença (Ryu et al, 2022).…”

Nutritional status and dietary patterns of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Bangladesh

“…Since the 1970s, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been recognized as a distinct illness that affects school-age children and adolescents [1], [2]. It is divided into three types: one where hyperactivity and impulsivity predominate, one where attention deficit type predominates, and a complex type where both symptoms are present [3], [4].…”