ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is the most common behavioral disorder in childhood, which although it is believed to be overdiagnosed, affects about 3.4 percent of children and adolescents worldwide.
Its causes are multifactorial (neurological, genetic, psychosocial) and the risks related to the disorder are often discussed, but not in the role that food can play in its prevention. A new study suggests that the Mediterranean diet could be related to a minor diagnosis of the disorder.
The research has been directed by María Izquierdo Pulido, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences of the University of Barcelona (UB), and José Ángel Alda, section chief of the Psychiatry Service of the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, who suggest that some inadequate eating habits They could have something to do with the development of this psychiatric disorder.
Unhealthy Dietary Patterns such as the consumption of processed foods, the low consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as skipping breakfast and the high consumption of sugar, would be related to a higher prevalence of diagnosis.
They also believe that deficiencies in essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, etc., essential for cognitive and physical development, could play an essential role among the causes of the disorder.
The Mediterranean diet is, without a doubt, an investment in health for the little ones (and adults too). Being rich in fruits, vegetables and healthy fats, provides the most necessary nutrients in the necessary proportions, so it could be a factor of protection against ADHD.
The authors of the paper insist that more studies need to be done to determine if a change in dietary habits towards a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, can be useful for reversing or improving ADHD symptoms.
