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. 2022 Feb 8;152(2):484-491.
doi: 10.1093/jn/nxab398.

Children's Diet at 2 Years and Trajectories of Hyperactivity-Inattention Symptoms and Conduct Problems Between 3 and 8 Years: The EDEN Cohort

Nicolas Iv  1   2 , Marie Herbein  1   2   3 , Barbara Heude  4 , Judith van der Waerden  5   6 , Maria Melchior  5   6 , Catherine Feart  1 , Cécile Delcourt  1 , Sylvana Côté  1   3   7   8 , Blandine De Lauzon-Guillain  4 , Sandrine Lioret  4 , Cédric Galera  1   2   3   7
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Free article

Children's Diet at 2 Years and Trajectories of Hyperactivity-Inattention Symptoms and Conduct Problems Between 3 and 8 Years: The EDEN Cohort

Nicolas Iv et al. J Nutr. .
Free article

Abstract

Background: Although the role of diet is increasingly acknowledged in psychiatry, data are still scarce regarding its early impact on the most significant behavioral disorders of childhood (i.e., hyperactivity-inattention and conduct problems).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the relation between children's dietary patterns at 2 years and developmental trajectories of hyperactivity-inattention and conduct problems between 3 and 8 years.

Methods: We recruited 1432 mother-child dyads from the French EDEN (etude sur les déterminants pré- et postnatals du développement et de la santé de l'enfant) mother-child cohort to conduct the analyses. Three dietary patterns, labeled guidelines, processed and fast foods, and baby foods, were identified using an FFQ in children aged 2 years in a previous study. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess hyperactivity-inattention and conduct problems at 3, 5, and 8 years of age and build related trajectories from 3 to 8 years. The relation between children's dietary patterns at 2 years and the worst developmental trajectories of hyperactivity-inattention and conduct problems were determined with multivariable logistic regressions adjusted for potential socioeconomic, maternal, and child confounders.

Results: The score on the guidelines dietary pattern was negatively associated with the risk of hyperactivity-inattention problems (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.60-0.94), contrary to adherence to the baby foods dietary pattern (OR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.16-1.71).

Conclusions: Distinct patterns of children's diet at 2 years were predictive of developmental trajectories of hyperactivity-inattention problems between 3 and 8 years. These results highlight the relevance of conducting further studies to clarify the mechanisms involved.

Keywords: childhood; conduct problems; dietary patterns; externalizing problems; hyperactivity-inattention problems.

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