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FRIDAY, March 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A higher prenatal omega-6:omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in cord plasma is associated with a higher attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) index score for the child at age 7 years, according to a study published online March 28 in The Journal of Pediatrics<\/i>.<\/p>\n
M\u00f3nica L\u00f3pez-Vicente, Ph.D., from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in Spain, and colleagues examined the correlation between n-6 arachidonic acid and n-3 eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations measured in cord plasma and ADHD symptoms at ages 4 and 7 years. ADHD symptoms were reported by teachers at age 4 years (580 children) and by parents at age 7 years (642 children). The ADHD variable was treated as continuous and dichotomous (score and symptom diagnostic criteria, respectively).<\/p>\n
The researchers observed a correlation for a higher omega-6:omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in cord plasma with increased ADHD index score (incidence rate ratio, 1.13; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.23) at age 7. At age 4 years, no association was observed using the continuous ADHD symptoms score (incidence rate ratio, 1.04; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.92 to 1.18). Using ADHD symptom diagnostic criteria, no associations were observed.<\/p>\n
“Future research should measure ADHD symptoms using the same rating scales across assessment periods to further understand the trajectory patterns of this complex outcome,” the authors write.<\/p>\n