Anthropometric status of preschoolers and elementary school children with ADHD: preliminary results from the EPINED study.

BACKGROUND: A current area of research interest is the association between ADHD and weight status. This paper aimed to describe the anthropometric status of school children with ADHD, considering age and clinical presentation (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined), compared with control children. METHODS: Participants came from the "Epidemiological Research Project on Neurodevelopmental Disorders" and consisted of 198 preschoolers (41 with ADHD) and 389 elementary school children (163 with ADHD). ADHD was diagnosed using DSM-5 criteria. Anthropometric measurements were taken at various anatomical points, and height, weight, and body composition were also measured. RESULTS: In preschoolers, an association was found between hyperactive-impulsive ADHD and greater height and lower waist-to-height ratio. In elementary school children, regardless of the medication, combined ADHD was associated with smaller head, hip, arm, and thigh circumferences and lower weight, height, and BMI. A total of 19.7% of them were underweight. In contrast, children with inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive presentations presented the highest percentage of overweight/obesity (56%). CONCLUSION: The anthropometric status of the school children with ADHD showed differences in terms of age and presentation. Preschoolers with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD are taller, and elementary school children with combined ADHD are shorter and smaller than their age-matched control peers. IMPACT: The anthropometric status of the school children with ADHD showed differences in terms of age and presentation. Preschoolers with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD are taller than their control peers. Elementary school children with combined ADHD, regardless of the pharmacological treatment, are shorter and smaller than their control peers. Medication may anthropometrically affect the height of children with inattentive presentation. Anthropometric and dietary monitoring should be recommended to parents of children with ADHD, with and without medication.

Nutrient intake and adequacy in children with autism spectrum disorder: EPINED epidemiological study.

LAY ABSTRACT: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a fivefold elevated risk of developing eating problems, which predisposes them to nutritional deficiencies. This study assesses nutritional intake and adequacy in children with ASD, subdiagnostic autistic symptoms and typically developing (TD) children. Preschool children with ASD and subdiagnostic symptoms had slightly lower intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), vitamin D and vitamin B12. Primary school children with ASD and subdiagnostic symptoms had slightly higher intake of protein, cholesterol, thiamine and niacin, and a higher percentage of obesity than children with TD. All children had a high intake in sugars, fats and saturated fatty acids; a very highly inadequate intake of vitamins (vitamins D and E), fibre, b-carotene, calcium and magnesium; and a moderately inadequate intake of vitamin C, folate and iron. However, although all children need nutrition advice, children with ASD and subdiagnostic autistic symptoms had a poorer quality diet than those with TD.

Do Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Follow a Different Dietary Pattern than That of Their Control Peers?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adolescents. A current area of interest is the association between ADHD and food consumption. The aim of this study was to determine the food consumption and dietary patterns of children with and without ADHD in relation to their age and ADHD presentation. The study involved 259 preschoolers aged 3 to 6 years old (57 with ADHD and 202 controls) and 475 elementary-school-age children, aged 10 to 12 years old (213 with ADHD and 262 controls) from Spain. ADHD was diagnosed in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) from Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children interviews. Eating data were collected using a food consumption frequency questionnaire, and principal component analysis was carried out to analyze dietary patterns. Western-like, sweet, and healthy patterns were identified. The ADHD group was negatively associated with the healthy pattern (p < 0.001) and positively associated with the Western-like diet (p = 0.004). Children with inattentive presentation showed lower adherence (12.2%) to a healthy pattern than that of the control group (39.9%) (p < 0.001). There is an association between ADHD and dietary habits; children with inattentive presentation may particularly be at risk of unhealthy eating habits.

Do Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Eat Differently and Less Adequately than Those with Subclinical ASD and Typical Development? EPINED Epidemiological Study.

Food consumption in children with ASD, subclinical ASD and with typical development (TD), and their adequacy to dietary recommendations was studied. A school population sample of 77 children with ASD, 40 with subclinical ASD, and 333 with TD participated. Compared to children with TD, pre-schoolers with ASD consumed fewer raw vegetables and less fish and eggs, while primary school children consumed fewer legumes, raw vegetables, citrus fruits, cheese/yogurt and olive oil, and more meat. All groups consumed an excess of sugar but those with ASD consumed even a greater amount than their peers. The higher prevalence of obesity found in primary school children with ASD may be the consequence of a less healthy eating pattern sustained over time.

Are there anthropometric and body composition differences between children with autism spectrum disorder and children with typical development? Analysis by age and spectrum severity in a school population.

LAY ABSTRACT: This study makes a comparison between the growth status of pre-school and school-age children with autism spectrum disorder and typical development children. Pre-schoolers with autism spectrum disorder were taller than children with typical development. School-age children with autism spectrum disorder were more overweight/obese, had more body fat and a greater waist circumference and waist/height ratio than children with typical development. The presence of autism spectrum disorder and internalizing problems was associated with cardiovascular risk in school-age children.

Validación de un cuestionario corto de frecuencia de consumo alimentario en niños pequeños / Validation of a short food frequency questionnaire in small children

Introducción: los cuestionarios de frecuencia de consumo alimentario validados en la edad infantil son escasos, principalmente largos y solo aportan datos del consumo alimentario. Objetivos: nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la reproducibilidad y validez de un cuestionario de frecuencia corto que estimara la frecuencia del consumo de alimentos y la ingesta energética y nutricional en edades de 3 a 6 años. Material y métodos: en 49 niños y niñas (57% varones) se valoró la reproducibilidad y la validez de un cuestionario de frecuencia de 41 ítems mediante los coeficientes de correlación de Spearman e intraclase, ajustados y sin ajustar por la energía. Se usó como método de referencia un registro alimentario de 6 días. Resultados: se obtuvo una reproducibilidad elevada en los alimentos con correlaciones > 0,70 para la mayoría de alimentos, y entre 0,5 y 0,7 para carnes, pescados, patatas, dulces-refrescos y aceite; para la energía y los nutrientes, las correlaciones fueron > 0,9 y > 0,7, respectivamente. Se obtuvo una validez fuerte o moderada en los alimentos, con correlaciones > 0,7 para lácteos y leche, y entre 0,4 y 0,7 para embutidos, huevos, yogur/queso, verduras y aceite, y en los nutrientes, con correlaciones > 0,5 para lípidos, AGS, AGP, fósforo, calcio, vitamina E y vitamina C, y entre 0,3 y 0,5 para energía, almidones, fibra, AGMI, colesterol, sodio, magnesio, potasio, retinol, rivoflabina, niacina, ácido pantoténico, vitamina B6 y folatos. Las correlaciones fueron significativas y se incrementaron al ajustar la energía. Conclusiones: el cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo alimentario corto para niños de 3-6 años de edad resultó tener una reproducibilidad elevada y buena validez, con resultados tan buenos como los de un cuestionario largo

Introduction: validated food frequency questionnaires in children are scarce, mostly long, and only provide data about food consumption. Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a short food frequency questionnaire that estimates energy, nutritional intake, and the frequency of food consumption in children aged between 3 and 6 years. Material and methods: in 49 children (57 % boys), the reproducibility and validity of a frequency questionnaire with 41 items was assessed using Spearman's and intraclass correlations, both adjusted and not adjusted for energy. A 6-day record was used as a reference method. Results: reproducibility was high in food groups with correlations > 0.70 for most of them and between 0.5 and 0.7 for meat, fish, potatoes, sweets/soft drinks, and oil. For energy and nutrients correlations were > 0.9 and > 0.7, respectively. Validity was strong to moderate for foods with correlations > 0.7 (dairy and milk) and between 0.4 and 0.7 (sausages, eggs, yogur/cheese, vegetables and oil), and for nutrients with correlations > 0.5 (lipids, AGS, AGP, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin E and vitamin C) and between 0.3 and 0.5 (energy, starches, fiber, MUFA, cholesterol, sodium, magnesium, potassium, retinol, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6 and folates). All correlations were significant and increased after they had been adjusted for energy. Conclusions: the short food frequency questionnaire for children between 3 and 6 years old has high reproducibility and good validity with results that are as good as those of long food frequency questionnaires

[Validation of a short food frequency questionnaire in small children]. / Validación de un cuestionario corto de frecuencia de consumo alimentario en niños pequeños.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: validated food frequency questionnaires in children are scarce, mostly long, and only provide data about food consumption. Objectives: the aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a short food frequency questionnaire that estimates energy, nutritional intake, and the frequency of food consumption in children aged between 3 and 6 years. Material and methods: in 49 children (57% boys), the reproducibility and validity of a frequency questionnaire with 41 items was assessed using Spearman's and intraclass correlations, both adjusted and not adjusted for energy. A 6-day record was used as a reference method. Results: reproducibility was high in food groups with correlations > 0.70 for most of them and between 0.5 and 0.7 for meat, fish, potatoes, sweets/soft drinks, and oil. For energy and nutrients correlations were > 0.9 and > 0.7, respectively. Validity was strong to moderate for foods with correlations > 0.7 (dairy and milk) and between 0.4 and 0.7 (sausages, eggs, yogur/cheese, vegetables and oil), and for nutrients with correlations > 0.5 (lipids, AGS, AGP, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin E and vitamin C) and between 0.3 and 0.5 (energy, starches, fiber, MUFA, cholesterol, sodium, magnesium, potassium, retinol, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6 and folates). All correlations were significant and increased after they had been adjusted for energy. Conclusions: the short food frequency questionnaire for children between 3 and 6 years old has high reproducibility and good validity with results that are as good as those of long food frequency questionnaires.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: los cuestionarios de frecuencia de consumo alimentario validados en la edad infantil son escasos, principalmente largos y solo aportan datos del consumo alimentario. Objetivos: nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la reproducibilidad y validez de un cuestionario de frecuencia corto que estimara la frecuencia del consumo de alimentos y la ingesta energética y nutricional en edades de 3 a 6 años. Material y métodos: en 49 niños y niñas (57% varones) se valoró la reproducibilidad y la validez de un cuestionario de frecuencia de 41 ítems mediante los coeficientes de correlación de Spearman e intraclase, ajustados y sin ajustar por la energía. Se usó como método de referencia un registro alimentario de 6 días. Resultados: se obtuvo una reproducibilidad elevada en los alimentos con correlaciones > 0,70 para la mayoría de alimentos, y entre 0,5 y 0,7 para carnes, pescados, patatas, dulces-refrescos y aceite; para la energía y los nutrientes, las correlaciones fueron > 0,9 y > 0,7, respectivamente. Se obtuvo una validez fuerte o moderada en los alimentos, con correlaciones > 0,7 para lácteos y leche, y entre 0,4 y 0,7 para embutidos, huevos, yogur/queso, verduras y aceite, y en los nutrientes, con correlaciones > 0,5 para lípidos, AGS, AGP, fósforo, calcio, vitamina E y vitamina C, y entre 0,3 y 0,5 para energía, almidones, fibra, AGMI, colesterol, sodio, magnesio, potasio, retinol, rivoflabina, niacina, ácido pantoténico, vitamina B6 y folatos. Las correlaciones fueron significativas y se incrementaron al ajustar la energía. Conclusiones: el cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo alimentario corto para niños de 3-6 años de edad resultó tener una reproducibilidad elevada y buena validez, con resultados tan buenos como los de un cuestionario largo.

Differences in food consumption and nutritional intake between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children: A meta-analysis.

Children with autism spectrum disorders show higher food selectivity, which restricts consumption of some foods and may cause nutritional deficiencies. The aims of this meta-analysis are to determine the overall differences in nutritional intake and food consumption between children with autism spectrum disorder and control (typical development) children, as well as determine the extent to which the nutritional intake and food consumption of autistic children comply with the dietary recommendations. Children with autism spectrum disorder consume less protein (standardized mean difference = -0.27, 95% confidence interval (-0.45, -0.08)), calcium (-0.56 (-0.95, -0.16)), phosphorus (-0.23 (-0.41, -0.04)), selenium (-0.29 (-0.44, -0.13)), vitamin D (-0.34 (-0.57, -0.11)), thiamine (-0.17 (-0.29, -0.05)), riboflavin (-0.25 (-0.45, -0.05)) and vitamin B12 (-0.52 (-0.95, -0.09)) and more polyunsaturated fat acid (0.27 (0.11, 0.44)) and vitamin E (0.28 (0.03, 0.54)) than controls. Autistic children also consume less omega-3 (-0.83 (-1.53, -0.16)) and more fruit (0.35 (0.12, 0.59)) and vegetables (0.35 (0.09, 0.61)) than control children; however, these results must be considered with care due to the low number of studies included in the analysis and the high heterogeneity. The results also suggest a lower intake of calcium, vitamin D and dairy and a higher intake of fruit, vegetables, protein, phosphorus, selenium, thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B12 than recommended.