Comparison between Nutritional Pattern of School Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and that of Normal Subjects

The main objective of he present research was to compare the nutritional pattern of school children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with that of normal children. In this study 400 school-age children who were between 7 to 9 years were randomly selected from three primary schools in city of Ahvaz. Children’s parents and teachers completed socio-economic, food frequency, anthropometric and psychologic scoring questionnaires. Results showed that there is a significant relationship between parental literacy and the severity of disorder, i.e. mothers with higher education and occupation levels had more normal children (P<0.01). Food allergy history among ADHD children was 2.5 times more than that of normal subjects. Breakfast consumption significantly correlated with lower severity of ADHD in boys (P<0.01). On the other hand, more daily sugar consumption increased the level of disorder in school girls but not in boys (P<0.001). Drinking more than 3 cups of tea a day was associated with increased severity of ADHD in boys (P<0.05). Food additives, colors and natural salicylates in daily food pattern of all cases were not related to severity and degree of ADHD. In conclusion, it seems that breakfast consumption is a strong positive healthy habit in school children and can lessen the disorder, while frequent tea and sugar consumption has negative effect on severity of ADHD. Also, parents must pay attention to their children’s food allergies.