Study links child ADHD to unhealthy eating patterns as brain’s pleasure system gets rewarded

02 Mar 2023 --- Investigating how food intake among children can relate to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), researchers have discovered a significant association between highly processed, high in sugar and fat and refined carbohydrate intake, compared to a control group.

Further investigating the previously stated fact that children with ADHD are more prone to experience dietary intake problems – disordered eating structures, poor eating behaviors and unreasonable nutrient intake – the authors argue that nutrient intake may be linked to increasing or decreasing the risk of ADHD.

Hunting dopamine
The study, published in Nutrients, included 204 children, whereas 102 were diagnosed with ADHD. It was carried out by researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China.

As one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders among children, the authors say that 5.9-7.1% of children globally have the diagnosis, and the number is increasing yearly. According to the researchers, in China, approximately 23 million children and adolescents have ADHD and 30-70% of patients carry the disorder into adulthood. 

Children who ingest high doses of sugar on an empty stomach produce high levels of adrenaline, the authors say.The researchers investigated mainstream dietary patterns and children’s eating behaviors. They found an association between ADHD and following a diet of processed food rich in processed meat, fried food, puffed food, sugary beverages and candies – which some experts have said are as addictive as tobacco.

Additionally, eggs, flour and rice products and a high sugar intake were associated with an increased disorder risk. 

“Sugar consumption is considered to be closely related to ADHD. After sugar enters the blood, it causes rapid changes in glucose levels and produces more adrenaline, providing more short-term energy for physical activities and showing more excitement or impulsiveness,” the study says. 

“Even healthy children who ingest high doses of sugar on an empty stomach produce high levels of adrenaline, which in turn can cause tremors, anxiety, excitement, and poor concentration,” it continues.

The authors further explain that sugar triggers the reward system – the brain’s pleasure system – which induces dopamine release and gives a rewarding sensation. It also creates a craving for the body to consume sugar again, producing a behavior of addiction which, in the long run, might overstimulate the brain and build a tolerance for the brain as sensitivity reduces. 

Eating behaviors
The authors note that characteristics of ADHD, such as impulsivity and emotional instability, might cause poor eating behaviors. Such as being picky or eating foods high in fat or refined carbohydrates as these foods “balance mood disorders as a form of self-treatment to modulate disturbances of dopamine metabolism and reward-punishment effects,” the study details. 

Compared to the control group, the children with ADHD showed a higher intake of fat, energy and carbohydrates, aligning with the processed and sweet food dietary pattern. Children with ADHD showed a higher intake of foods high in fat, energy and carbohydrates.

There was also an increased desire to drink for those with ADHD.

The researchers say that prior research has demonstrated the efficiency of vitamin D, magnesium and zinc supplementation for children with ADHD. Recently, pine tree bark has been explored for children with ADHD. A Belgium-based study found effectiveness from the extract in managing impulsivity and hyperactivity.

This research brings significance to nutrient intake and its association with ADHD, although further research is needed to verify the findings.

“It is worth further investigating causality and determining whether dietary manipulation helps improve the core symptoms. We suggest that attention should be paid to diet and behavioral management in the treatment and follow-up of children with ADHD to reduce the risk of dietary factors on the core symptoms of ADHD and growth and development,” the study concludes.

By Beatrice Wihlander