ADHD/Autism risk linked to maternal diet and paracetamol use

A Danish study published in Nature Metabolism suggests that following a western diet―high in fat, sugar, and refined products while low in fish, vegetables, and fruit―during pregnancy may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD and autism, in children.

 

Researchers analysed dietary patterns, blood samples, genetic data and clinical diagnoses from four large mother-child cohorts in Denmark and the United States, which included more than 60,000 mother-child pairs.

 

Even moderate adherence to a western diet was linked to a 66 per cent increased risk of ADHD and a 122 per cent increased risk of autism. This also means that even small dietary changes away from a western pattern could potentially reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. The strongest association between a western diet and ADHD risk was observed during the first and second trimesters, “suggesting that brain development during this period is particularly sensitive to maternal nutritional influences."

 

Another study published in Nature Mental Health finds that taking the common painkiller paracetamol during pregnancy can increase the risk of ADHD in children. Up to 70 per cent of pregnant women take paracetamol, which is one of the few medications considered safe during pregnancy. The researchers tracked plasma biomarkers for paracetamol in the blood samples of 307 pregnant women. The children born to these mothers were followed for 8 to 10 years.

 

ADHD rates were 9 per cent in children whose mothers avoided paracetamol during pregnancy, compared to 18 per cent in those whose mothers used it. The risk of developing ADHD was 3.15 times higher among children whose mothers used the painkiller. The association was stronger among daughters than sons, with daughters showing a 6.16 times increased risk.

 

The findings suggest that doctors should reconsider prescribing medications with paracetamol during pregnancy, the researchers said.

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