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Dietary patterns are associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among preschoolers in

Shuangqin Yan¹, Hui Cao¹, Chunli Gu¹

¹Maanshan Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Maanshan, 243000, Anhui, China.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

|March 15, 2018

Insights

Unhealthy diets high in processed foods and snacks are linked to increased attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in preschoolers. Conversely, a vegetarian diet may be associated with fewer ADHD indications.

Area of Science:

Pediatric Nutrition
Child Psychology
Public Health

Background:

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder in children.
Dietary habits in early childhood can significantly influence behavioral outcomes.
Understanding the relationship between diet and ADHD is crucial for early intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify major dietary patterns among preschoolers in Ma'anshan, China.
To investigate the association between these dietary patterns and the prevalence of ADHD symptoms.

Main Methods:

A cross-sectional survey of 14,912 children aged 3-6 years.
Dietary intake assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.
ADHD symptoms evaluated with the Conners' abbreviated symptom questionnaire.
Principal components analysis and logistic regression used for data analysis.

Main Results:

Five distinct dietary patterns were identified, explaining 47.96% of dietary variation.
The "processed" dietary pattern was the most significant, explaining 24.69% of variability.
Higher intake of "processed" and "snack" foods correlated with increased odds of ADHD symptoms (OR=1.56 and 1.76, respectively).
A "vegetarian" dietary pattern was associated with a lower likelihood of ADHD symptoms (OR=0.67).

Conclusions:

Preschoolers in Ma'anshan, China, exhibit a tendency towards unhealthy dietary patterns.
"Processed" and "snack" dietary patterns are positively associated with ADHD symptoms.
"Vegetarian" dietary patterns show a negative correlation with ADHD symptoms, suggesting a potential protective effect.

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Abstract

Background/Objectives:

To identify the major dietary patterns among preschoolers and assess the relation of major dietary patterns to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Subjects/Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted comprising a large sample of 14,912 children aged 3-6 years old in Ma'anshan city of Anhui Province in China. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and the 10-item Chinese version of the Conners' abbreviated symptom questionnaire were administered to assess usual dietary intakes and ADHD. Social-demographic information was also collected. Major dietary patterns were identified by principal components analysis. Logistic regression was employed to explore the association of dietary patterns with ADHD.

Results:

Five dietary patterns were identified explaining 47.96% of the total diet variation. The "processed" dietary component was the principal pattern that explained the higher percentage of variability, 24.69%. After controlling for potential confounders, preschoolers in the top quintile of the "processed" (odds ratio (OR) = 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31-1.86) and "snack" (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.49-2.07) dietary pattern score had greater odds for having ADHD symptoms compared with those in the lowest quintile. Lowest scores on the "vegetarian" were associated with significantly a higher likelihood of indications of ADHD symptoms (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.56-0.79).

Conclusions:

This study showed that preschoolers tend to choose unhealthy dietary pattern in Ma'anshan, China. "Processed" and "snack" dietary patterns were significantly and positively correlated with ADHD symptoms, while "vegetarian" dietary patterns were negatively correlated with ADHD symptoms.

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