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A plant-based dietary score and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Iranian children: A case-control study
Mina Darand1, Shirin Hassanizadeh1, Fahime Martami2
1Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Insights
A plant-based diet (PDI) is linked to a reduced risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Higher adherence to a PDI was associated with significantly lower odds of ADHD diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Nutritional psychiatry
- Pediatric health
Background:
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a widespread neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 5% of children globally.
- Inflammation and oxidative stress are implicated in ADHD pathophysiology, and plant foods may offer protection.
- The role of dietary patterns, specifically plant-based diets (PDI), in ADHD risk requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between adherence to a plant-based diet (PDI) and the risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents.
- To explore the relationship between dietary intake and ADHD diagnosis in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 345 children and adolescents aged 7-13 years in Yazd, Iran.
- Participants were classified into ADHD case (n=113) and control (n=232) groups, matched for age and sex.
- ADHD diagnosis utilized DSM-IV-TR criteria; dietary intake was assessed via food frequency questionnaires, and logistic regression analyzed the PDI-ADHD association.
Main Results:
- Children in the highest quartile of PDI intake exhibited higher energy, macronutrient, and micronutrient (calcium, zinc, iron, B12, B6, folic acid) consumption compared to the lowest quartile.
- A significant inverse trend was observed between increasing quartiles of PDI and ADHD odds (P-trend=0.001).
- The highest PDI quartile was associated with a 68% reduction in ADHD odds versus the lowest quartile, a finding robust even after adjusting for BMI (OR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.13-0.79).
Conclusions:
- A plant-based diet (PDI) is significantly associated with a lower risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
- Findings suggest that dietary patterns emphasizing plant foods may play a protective role against ADHD.
- Further validation through cohort and clinical studies is recommended to confirm these results.
Objective:
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with a prevalence of 5 % among children and adolescents worldwide. Plant foods have a protective effect against inflammation and oxidative stress which both are involved in psychiatric disorders pathophysiology including ADHD. Accordingly, we investigated the association between plant-based diet (PDI) and ADHD.
Methods:
This case-control study was conducted on 345children and adolescents 7-13 years old in Yazd, Iran. Subjects were categorized into the case (n = 113) and control groups (n = 232) based on matching age and sex. To diagnose ADHD, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSMIV-TR) was used. Food frequency questionnaire was used to measure food intake. The association of PDI with ADHD was examined by logistic regression.
Results:
Children in the highest quartile of PDI compared to the lowest quartile had a higher energy and macronutrient intake, calcium, zinc, iron, vitamin B12, B6, and folic acid. After adjusting for potential confounders, a significant decreasing trend in the odds of ADHD across increasing quartiles of the PDI (P-trend = 0.001) was observed. In addition, children in the fourth quartile of PDI had 68 % lower odds of ADHD than the first quartile. This association remained significant after further adjustment for BMI (OR: 0.32;95 % CI: 0.13-0.79; P for trend: 0.001).
Conclusion:
We found that PDI is associated with lower risk of ADHD in children. Cohort and clinical studies are necessary to approve our results.
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