Four ways diet could help reduce ADHD symptoms in children
Cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are rising in Hong Kong. A diet that is high in omega fatty acids and proteins, and low in processed sugars and junk food, may help treat it without resort to drugs
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental problems in children. Sufferers are usually hyperactive, impulsive, and have difficulty paying attention. The prevalence of ADHD among Hong Kong schoolchildren is similar to the figure internationally, which is from 5 per cent to 9 per cent, with boys more frequently affected than girls, according to Castle Peak Hospital’s Institute of Mental Health.
The number of cases handled by the Hospital Authority’s child and adolescent psychiatric teams rose more than 50 per cent, from 18,900 in 2011 to 28,800 in 2016, according to a Review on Mental Health published by the Legislative Council’s panel on health services in April. ADHD was among the major disorders in these children, making up almost half the caseload.
While the precise cause of the condition remains elusive, previous research has suggested that a poor diet may play a role. A study published in Nutrition Review in 2008 from the Nutritional Physiology Research Centre at the University of South Australia in Adelaide, found adverse reactions to specific foods and food additives, exposure to toxic food contaminants and low levels of micronutrients such as essential fatty acids, zinc, magnesium and iron in children with ADHD. Some studies have indicated that healthful diets could help to prevent or even treat ADHD, though other research has challenged this theory.
