Mediterranean diet linked to a lower risk of ADHD
Dietary patterns of the Mediterranean diet can be related to a lower diagnose of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics , which was led by researchers at the University of Barcelona and Sant Joan de Deu Hospital in Barcelona found.
The study looked at the relationship between the Mediterranean diet and ADHD in children and adolescents.
However, new research is necessary to establish the causality between nutrient-poor eating habits and ADHD, according to the authors.
The mechanisms that link a low-quality diet and ADHD are still unknown. However, it is known that an unbalanced dietary pattern can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients (iron, zinc, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids etc) for cognitive and physical growth and these appear to play an essential role in the etiology of ADHD.
Mediterranean diet: nutrition and health
The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables and healthy fats and provides most of the nutrients in the right proportions.
The new study doesn't state that this diet could be a protection factor against ADHD but it indicates children and adolescents need healthy diets at the time when their bodies need the best nutrients as they grow into adulthood.
The authors of the study believe more studies are needed to determine if a change in dietary habits towards a healthy diet such as the Mediterranean one could serve to reverse or improve ADHD symptoms.
Source: Science Daily.com
