Anthropometric indices and Zn and Fe intake in children with ADHD, Tabriz, Iran. A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has recently become one of the most common behavioral disorder among children and adolescents around the world. ADHD has three major types: I= inattention, H=hyperactive, C=combined. Different factors are involved in etiology of ADHD. Children’s dietary intake and nutrition status are one of the major ones which are recently studied vastly. Present study aimed to investigate anthropometric indices and Zn and Fe intake in children with ADHD, Tabriz, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 384 children and adolescents, 1 to 18 years old, referring to the psychologic clinics for the first time in Tabriz, Iran from January 2017 to January 2018. DSM-IV-TR was used for diagnosis by specialized psychologist. Type of ADHD was determined using Conners uestionnaire. Three 24- hour dietary recall (2 week-days and 1 off-day) were completed for each participant via interview. Dietary analysis was inducted with N4. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Children with ADHD type C showed a significantly lower z-score of height for age and weight for age (p<0.001 for both) compared to I group that had the highest rate (p<0.001 for both). Data analysis showed that Zn and Fe intake among type C was lower than I and H (p<0.001 for both) and highly correlated to height for age z-score (r=0.75). As well H group had the significantly least amount daily calorie intake in comparison to I type (p<0.001) and C type (p=0.023). calorie intake was positively correlated to weight to age z-score among each group (p=0.001, r=0.7). Conclusion: Insufficient Fe and Zn intake and additional daily calorie intake can probably cause more intense complications (type C) in children with ADHD along with defeated height growth. More general studies concerning dietary intake in ADHD children are needed .