Navigation
The Mediterranean Diet and ADHD in children and adolescents
This 2017 study claims to be the first to investigate the relationship between the Mediterranean diet and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It was hypothesized that a low adherence to a Mediterranean diet would correlate with a higher number of ADHD diagnoses. A total of 120 children and adolescents were recruited, including 60 participants with newly diagnosed ADHD and 60 healthy controls (all sex- and age-matched). The results indicated that lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with increased risk of ADHD diagnosis, even after adjustments were made to the analysis model for potential confounders. Moreover, diagnosis was linked with less frequent intake of fruit, vegetables, pasta, and rice, and with more frequently skipping breakfast and eating at fast food restaurants. Additionally, those who ate more candy, sugars, cola beverages, and non-cola soft drinks, and consumed less fatty fish were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Although these results do not explain the cause of ADHD, it suggests that low adherence to a Mediterranean diet may influence the development of this disorder. Also, “whole diet” should be considered as well as “specific nutrients” when discussing dietary modification in ADHD. [NPID: diet, nutrition, nutrients, children, adolescents, ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diagnosis, candy, sugar, unhealthy, soft drinks, cola, fast food, Mediterranean diet, fish, pasta, breakfast, fruit, vegetables, veg, rice]
Year: 2017
