A study found that adolescents with ADHD who eat healthy foods have fewer concentration problems.
Diet quality, nutrient adequacy, and symptom associations in ADHD: A case-control study of Australian adolescents - ScienceDirect
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3051156926000122
Better diets are linked to sharper focus in teens with attention disorders
https://www.psypost.org/better-diets-are-linked-to-sharper-focus-in-teens-with-attention-disorders/
In recent years, there has been growing interest in the impact of diet and nutrition on the brain, and there is evidence suggesting that deficiencies in certain nutrients may worsen behavioral symptoms. Therefore, a research team at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia investigated the effects of diet on ADHD symptoms in teenagers for whom proper nutrition is essential.
The study involved 39 adolescents aged 13 to 19, 18 of whom had been diagnosed with ADHD. The research team collected detailed health and demographic information from the adolescents and their parents, as well as four days of dietary records.
The adolescent participants recorded everything they ate and drank using standard measuring cups and spoons over three weekdays and one weekend day. The research team used specialized software to analyze what the adolescents ate and accurately measure the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and fats they consumed.
The research team compared adolescent nutritional data with Australia's national dietary guidelines and calculated scores based on how closely their eating habits resembled the Mediterranean diet . The Mediterranean diet is a diet centered on vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, and olive oil, and is known to be good for health.
The adolescents then underwent a computer-based visual test to measure their cognitive abilities. The 21-minute test required them to react quickly and accurately to specific images on the screen, measuring attention span, reaction time, and impulse control. The adolescents and their guardians also answered standard questions about behaviors related to concentration and hyperactivity.
Analysis of the data revealed that adolescents diagnosed with ADHD scored higher on items such as inattention and impulsivity compared to a control group without ADHD. Furthermore, the research team examined dietary habits and found that teenagers in both groups had relatively unhealthy diets. Many adolescents routinely exceeded the recommended intake of saturated fats, sodium, and sugar, and did not consume enough dietary fiber, calcium, and
A comparison of the total nutritional intake of both groups revealed no statistically significant difference, with adolescents diagnosed with ADHD consuming almost the same diet as those without. The only difference was that adolescents with ADHD consumed candy and sweets more frequently.
Furthermore, there were clear trends in eating habits with age; while the eating habits of adolescents in the control group slightly improved with age, adolescents with ADHD tended to have worsening eating habits with age.
The research team points out that these age-related differences in eating habits are due to teenagers gaining more money and freedom, leading to increased autonomy in their dietary choices. Adolescents with ADHD may exhibit more impulsive and reward-seeking behavior, and reduced parental supervision may make them more likely to choose processed foods and sugary treats.
Furthermore, when researchers examined diet and performance on visual tasks, they found that adolescents diagnosed with ADHD who followed a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet had fewer problems with concentration and hyperactivity. These adolescents performed better on visual tasks, showing faster processing speeds and more consistent reaction times.
The research team also identified several nutrients associated with improved performance on visual tests. First, the more adolescents consumed vitamin B12 , which is essential for brain development, the faster their reaction times on the test. Vitamin B12 is abundant in animal products such as meat, dairy products, and eggs.
Furthermore, compared to omega-6 fatty acids , which are abundant in vegetable oils and processed foods, higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and seeds, was associated with improved attention and impulse control. Omega-3 fatty acids help in the formation of brain cell membranes and reduce inflammation.
Focusing on the symptom profiles of adolescents with ADHD, it was found that adolescents with mixed ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity) met their daily nutritional requirements more than those who only suffered from attention deficit. Furthermore, the use of ADHD medication did not significantly alter their overall eating habits.
This study involved a relatively small sample size of 39 people and could not prove a causal relationship such as 'unhealthy eating habits worsen ADHD symptoms' or 'ADHD causes unhealthy eating habits.' Future research, which will track a larger number of subjects for several years and combine this with blood tests, is expected to provide a more accurate understanding of the effects of diet on the brain.
Related Posts:
