Dietary patterns in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Nutrients. 2014 Apr 14;6(4):1539-53. doi: 10.3390/nu6041539.

Abstract

The role of diet in the behavior of children has been controversial, but the association of several nutritional factors with childhood behavioral disorders has been continually suggested. We conducted a case-control study to identify dietary patterns associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study included 192 elementary school students aged seven to 12 years. Three non-consecutive 24-h recall (HR) interviews were employed to assess dietary intake, and 32 predefined food groups were considered in a principal components analysis (PCA). PCA identified four major dietary patterns: the "traditional" pattern, the "seaweed-egg" pattern, the "traditional-healthy" pattern, and the "snack" pattern. The traditional-healthy pattern is characterized by a diet low in fat and high in carbohydrates as well as high intakes of fatty acids and minerals. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of ADHD for the highest tertile of the traditional-healthy pattern in comparison with the lowest tertile was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.12-0.79). The score of the snack pattern was positively associated with the risk of ADHD, but a significant association was observed only in the second tertile. A significant association between ADHD and the dietary pattern score was not found for the other two dietary patterns. In conclusion, the traditional-healthy dietary pattern was associated with lower odds having ADHD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / epidemiology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Diet
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Mental Recall
  • Odds Ratio
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Republic of Korea
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Trace Elements / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Trace Elements