Plant-based fat supply is associated with reduced ADHD disease burden

Abstract

ObjectivesAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is emerging as a major neurodevelopmental disorder on a global scale, affecting both children and increasingly adult population. Its aetiology is unclear but seems to involve genetic and environmental factors, particularly diets and nutrients. However, most studies so far only focused on specific nutrients or dietary patterns, lacking systematic perspectives of their potential interactions, and also neglecting other confounding factors like socioeconomic status. Thus, we aim to systematically interrogate the association between nutrient supply, reflecting the food exposure and environment, socioeconomic status and ADHD disease burden at a global level over time.MethodsADHD disease burden, macronutrient supply and gross domestic product (GDP) were collated from more than 150 countries from 1990 to 2018 and analyzed with nutritional geometry generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs).ResultsModelling results suggested the interactive effects of nutrients and socioeconomic status on ADHD. Fat, especially plant-based fat supply, is associated with decreased ADHD disease burden. These associations were conserved across sexes and ages and were not confounded by the total energy supply.ConclusionsGlobally, far, particularly plant-based fat supply seemed to drive the reduction of ADHD disease burden, which is supported by previous reports about the amelioration of ADHD by ketogenic diets. Further in-depth studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanistic and may inform future targeted dietary interventions for ADHD prevention and/or treatment.