Maternal Diet During Pregnancy May Modulate the Risk of ADHD Symptoms in Children

The results of a study led by a team from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) , a centre supported by ”la Caixa”, suggest that the risk of a child developing symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be modulated by the mother’s diet during pregnancy. The study, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, analysed samples of umbilical cord plasma to quantify the levels of omega-6 and omega-3 that reach the foetus . The statistical analysis showed a higher omega-6:omega-3 ratio to be associated with a higher risk of ADHD symptoms at seven years of age.

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

The authors studied data from 600 children living in four Spanish regions (Asturias, Basque Country, Catalonia and Valencia) who are participating in the INMA project . They analysed umbilical cord plasma samples and data from questionnaires completed by the children’s mothers. ADHD symptoms were assessed using two standard questionnaires: the first completed by the children’s teachers at age four years, and the second by their parents at age seven years.

Read more at Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)

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