Epidemiology

Dietary patterns are associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among preschoolers in mainland China

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 72, pages1517–1523(2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

To identify the major dietary patterns among preschoolers and assess the relation of major dietary patterns to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Subjects/methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted comprising a large sample of 14,912 children aged 3–6 years old in Ma’anshan city of Anhui Province in China. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and the 10-item Chinese version of the Conners’ abbreviated symptom questionnaire were administered to assess usual dietary intakes and ADHD. Social-demographic information was also collected. Major dietary patterns were identified by principal components analysis. Logistic regression was employed to explore the association of dietary patterns with ADHD.

Results

Five dietary patterns were identified explaining 47.96% of the total diet variation. The “processed” dietary component was the principal pattern that explained the higher percentage of variability, 24.69%. After controlling for potential confounders, preschoolers in the top quintile of the “processed” (odds ratio (OR) = 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31–1.86) and “snack” (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.49–2.07) dietary pattern score had greater odds for having ADHD symptoms compared with those in the lowest quintile. Lowest scores on the “vegetarian” were associated with significantly a higher likelihood of indications of ADHD symptoms (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.56–0.79).

Conclusions

This study showed that preschoolers tend to choose unhealthy dietary pattern in Ma’anshan, China. “Processed” and “snack” dietary patterns were significantly and positively correlated with ADHD symptoms, while “vegetarian” dietary patterns were negatively correlated with ADHD symptoms.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are extremely grateful to all the colleagues working in the Health Care Department of Maternal and Child Health Centers in Ma'anshan, Department of Maternal and Child Health of Anhui Medical University for the help with data collection; all the teachers who readily helped and consented to carry out the study in the kindergartens; and all the participating caregivers of children. This study was carried out with financial support from the second batch of Anhui provincial health office research projects (grant numbers 13FR006) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 81573168).

Author contributions

Study concept and design: FT, SY, and HC. Acquisiton of data: SY, HC, CG, LN, HT, TS, and YX. Analysis and interpretation of data: SY, HC, and FT. Drafting of the manuscript: SY, HC, and FT. Critical revision: SY, HC, CG, LN, HT, TS, YX, and FT.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Maanshan Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Maanshan, 243000, Anhui, China

    Shuangqin Yan, Hui Cao, Chunli Gu & Yeqing Xu

  2. Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China

    Lingling Ni, Huihui Tao, Ting Shao & Fangbiao Tao

  3. Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, China

    Lingling Ni, Huihui Tao, Ting Shao & Fangbiao Tao

Authors
  1. Shuangqin Yan
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  2. Hui Cao
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  3. Chunli Gu
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  4. Lingling Ni
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  5. Huihui Tao
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  6. Ting Shao
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  7. Yeqing Xu
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  8. Fangbiao Tao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fangbiao Tao.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was obtained from Biomedicine Ethical Committee in Anhui Medical University.

Additional information

These authors contributed equally: Shuangqin Yan, Hui Cao.

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Yan, S., Cao, H., Gu, C. et al. Dietary patterns are associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among preschoolers in mainland China. Eur J Clin Nutr 72, 1517–1523 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0131-0

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