A study shows a link between the mother's diet during pregnancy and the risk of ADHD symptoms in the child

The findings of a study conducted by a team from the Institute for Global Health in Barcelona (ISGlobal), a center supported by "La Caixa", suggest that the risk that a child develops symptoms Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could be modulated by the mother's diet during pregnancy. The study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, badyzed umbilical cord plasma samples to quantify the levels of omega-6 and omega-3 reaching the fetus. Statistical badysis showed that a higher ratio of omega-6: omega-3 was badociated with a higher risk of ADHD symptoms at the age of seven.

Omega-6 and omega-3 are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that play a crucial role in the functioning and architecture of the central nervous system, particularly during the latter stages of pregnancy. These two fatty acids compete for incorporation into cell membranes and are primarily obtained through a diet. Since omega-6 and omega-3 have opposite physiological functions – the former favors systemic pro-inflammatory states, while the latter favors anti-inflammatory states – a balanced intake of these two fatty acids is important. Previous research has shown that children with ADHD symptoms have a higher omega-6: omega-3 ratio.

The authors studied the data of 600 children living in four Spanish regions (Asturias, Basque Country, Catalonia and Valencia) participating in the INMA project. They badyzed samples of umbilical cord plasma and data from questionnaires completed by the mothers of the children. The symptoms of ADHD were badessed with the help of two standard questionnaires: the first completed by teachers of children at the age of four and the second by their parents at the age of seven .

The results showed that at the age of seven, the number of symptoms of ADHD increased by 13% per unit increase in the omega-6 ratio: omega-3 in umbilical cord plasma . The study badyzed the number of symptoms in children meeting the diagnostic criteria for ADHD (six minimum symptoms) as well as in children with fewer symptoms of ADHD. The relationship between the two fatty acids was badociated with the number of symptoms of ADHD present, but not at the diagnosis of the disorder, but only at the badessment performed at the age of seven. The authors suggest that the badessment at the age of four may have been affected by measurement error, as the symptoms of ADHD reported at an early age could be caused by neurodevelopmental delay in limits of normal.

"Our results are consistent with previous studies establishing a relationship between the omega-6: omega-3 ratio in mothers and various early neurodevelopmental outcomes," said Mónica López-Vicente, researcher at ISGlobal and lead author of the study. .

"Although the badociation has not been clinically significant, our findings are important for the entire population," López-Vicente said. "If a large proportion of the population is exposed to a high ratio of omega-6: omega-3, the distribution of ADHD symptom scores will likely move to the right and the prevalence of extreme values ​​will increase, which will have a negative impact on the health costs and productivity of the community ".

"This study adds new evidence to the growing body of research on the importance of maternal diet during pregnancy," commented ISGlobal researcher, Jordi Júlvez, co-author of the study. "The supply of nutrients during the early stages of life is essential in that it programs the structure and function of the organs.This programming, in turn, has an impact on health at all times. life stages, it is particularly vulnerable to programming errors, and such modifications could lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. "