ABSTRACT
In some studies, it is suggested that a number of dietary factors including essential fatty acid, iron and zinc deficiency, may be linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder [ADHD]. However, the exact mechanism of this relationship is yet unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and iron in etiopathology and management of ADHD. For the purpose of this study, Science Direct, PubMed, and Medline databases were explored and thirty-four relevant articles in english language were collected. Eighteen out of twenty-two studies confirmed the relationship between omega-3 fatty acid and ADHD. In addition, the role of insufficient store of iron in developing ADHD symptoms and the positive effect of iron supplement in improvement of ADHD behavioral symptoms have been shown. Also, plasma zinc concentration in children with ADHD was lower than the normal population, and the effect of zinc supplement on reducing on attentive-deficit symptoms was contradictory. Although polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA] and iron supplements are not suggested as main treatment for ADHD, but if future studies confirm the positive results of that, use of these supplements as complementary treatment will affect ADHD symptoms. Considering the little amount of studies on zinc, more research is necessary
ABSTRACT
To investigate the rate of neural tube defects [NTDs] and their relation to gender, maternal age, consanguineous marriage, season, and drug consumption in Birjand, Iran. This research was carried out on 16,785 live or stillborn newborns in Birjand, Iran from April 1997 to December 2001. The rate of NTDs was 2.97 per 1000. This rate was 1.97 per 1000 in males, and 3.55 per 1000 in females. The rate of anencephaly was 1.37 per 1000, and spina bifida was 0.88 per 1000. We found that 32% of mothers with affected newborns had taken drugs during the first trimester of pregnancy, 90% of mothers did not consume folate before and during the first trimester, and 54% of parents had consanguineous marriage. We concluded that folate deficiency, usage of drugs during pregnancy, and consanguineous marriage may play a role of predisposition to NTD