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. 2024 Aug;69(8):567-589.
doi: 10.1177/07067437241248070. Epub 2024 Apr 30.

The Role of Dietary Patterns and Nutritional Supplements in the Management of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses: Le rôle des habitudes alimentaires et des suppléments nutritionnels dans la prise en charge des troubles mentaux chez les enfants et les adolescents : une méta-revue de méta-analyses

Maria Talib  1   2 , Majda Rachdi  2 , Anna Papazova  2 , Hélène Nicolis  2   3
Affiliations

The Role of Dietary Patterns and Nutritional Supplements in the Management of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses: Le rôle des habitudes alimentaires et des suppléments nutritionnels dans la prise en charge des troubles mentaux chez les enfants et les adolescents : une méta-revue de méta-analyses

Maria Talib et al. Can J Psychiatry. 2024 Aug.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: In recent years, the relationship between nutrition and mental health has gained considerable interest. We identified, synthesized, and appraised all meta--analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies reporting on the efficacy of dietary patterns and nutrient supplements in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders in children and adolescents.

Methods: Systematic research in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was completed on 8 January 2024.

Results: Our research found 24 meta-analyses: 14 on RCTs, 8 on observational studies, and 2 combining both. Emerging evidence suggests that omega-3, in particular eicosapentaenoic acid, and Vitamin D may have adjunctive benefits in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while no evidence was found for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Observational data also indicated that prenatal folic acid supplementation (>400 μg daily) was associated with a reduced risk of ASD in offspring. In terms of dietary habits, several meta-analyses of observational data revealed that healthy dietary patterns (rich in fruits, vegetables, and fibre, low in saturated fats) during the prenatal period, childhood, and adolescence were linked to a significantly reduced risk of internalizing disorders and externalizing disorders. Conversely, unhealthy dietary habits (high in sugars, saturated animal fats, and industrial foods, low in fruits, vegetables, and fibre) are associated with an elevated risk of these mental health issues. However, the number of available studies on dietary interventions for the treatment of depression, ASD, and ADHD was limited, and the results obtained were either nonsignificant or contradictory.

Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the need to establish clear causal relationships between dietary habits and the risk of mental illness in children and adolescents. Moreover, further investigation of the benefits observed with some nutrient supplements (such as omega-3 and vitamin D for ADHD) through larger-scale RCTs is imperative to establish more robust conclusions.

Objectif: Ces dernières années, la relation entre nutrition et santé mentale a suscité un intérêt considérable. Nous avons identifié, synthétisé et évalué toutes les méta-analyses d'essais contrôlés randomisés (ECR) et d'études observationnelles portant sur l'efficacité des régimes alimentaires et des suppléments nutritionnels dans la prévention et le traitement des troubles mentaux chez les enfants et les adolescents.

Méthodes: La recherche systématique a été effectuée sur les bases de données MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews le 8 janvier 2024.

Résultats: Notre recherche systématique a recueilli 24 méta-analyses, dont 14 méta-analyses d'ECR, 8 méta-analyses d'études observationnelles et 2 méta-analyses combinant les deux types d'études. De nouvelles preuves suggèrent que les oméga-3, en particulier l'acide eicosapentaénoïque, et la vitamine D, pourraient avoir des effets bénéfiques en tant que traitement adjuvant du trouble déficitaire de l'attention avec hyperactivité (TDAH), alors qu'aucune preuve n'a été trouvée pour les troubles du spectre autistique (TSA). Les données observationnelles ont également indiqué qu'une supplémentation prénatale en acide folique (> 400 μg par jour) était associée à un risque réduit de TSA chez la progéniture. En termes d'habitudes alimentaires, plusieurs méta-analyses de données observationnelles ont révélé que des habitudes alimentaires saines (riches en fruits, légumes et fibres, pauvres en graisses saturées) pendant la période prénatale, l'enfance et l'adolescence étaient liées à un risque significativement réduit de troubles internalisés et troubles externalisés. À l’inverse, des habitudes alimentaires malsaines (riches en sucres, en graisses animales saturées et en aliments industriels, pauvres en fruits, légumes et fibres) sont associées à un risque élevé de ces troubles mentaux. Cependant, le nombre d’études disponibles sur les interventions alimentaires pour le traitement de la dépression, du TSA et du TDAH était limité et les résultats obtenus étaient soit non significatifs, soit contradictoires.

Conclusion: Nos résultats soulignent la nécessité d’établir des relations causales claires entre les habitudes alimentaires et le risque de troubles mentaux chez les enfants et les adolescents. De plus, une étude plus approfondie des bénéfices observés avec certains suppléments nutritionnels (tels que les oméga-3 et la vitamine D pour le TDAH) par le biais d'ECR à plus grande échelle est impérative pour établir des conclusions plus solides.

Keywords: Dietary patterns; Habitudes alimentaires; child and adolescent psychiatry; dietary supplements; neurodevelopmental disorders; psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent; suppléments nutritionnels; troubles neurodéveloppementaux.

Plain language summary

We investigated the link between nutrition and mental health in children and adolescents through a meta-review of 24 relevant meta-analyses. Emerging evidence suggests potential benefits of Omega-3 and Vitamin D in treating ADHD, while no evidence supports their effectiveness in ASD. Observational data also indicate that prenatal folic acid supplementation may lower ASD risk. Healthy dietary patterns reduce the risk of internalizing and externalizing disorders, whereas unhealthy habits elevate the risk. Limited studies on dietary interventions for depression, ASD, and ADHD provide inconclusive results. In summary, our results emphasize the need to clearly understand the cause-and-effect relationships between dietary habits and mental health risks in young individuals. Larger-scale randomized controlled trials are essential for confirming the observed benefits of nutrient supplements such as omega-3 and vitamin D in treating ADHD and for forming more reliable conclusions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA 2020 flow diagram.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
CCA and GROOVE for included meta-analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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