Impulsiveness in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder after an 8-week intervention with the Mediterranean diet and/or omega-3 fatty acids: a randomised clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) is a self-administered instrument designed to assess the personality/behavioural construct of impulsiveness. Impulsiveness has been associated with several psychiatric disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study assesses the progression of impulsive behaviour in children with ADHD after an 8-week dietary intervention with the Mediterranean diet and/or omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, by using a version of the 11-item BIS adapted for children (BIS-11c). METHODS: This cross-sectional study includes 60 children with ADHD from the region of Madrid, Spain. Participants were divided into 4 groups, with one control group and 3 intervention groups (Mediterranean diet; omega-3 supplementation; and Mediterranean diet plus omega-3 supplementation). A personalised Mediterranean diet was designed for members of groups 2 and 4. The BIS-11c was administered to determine the level of impulsiveness, and the KIDMED test was used to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet. RESULTS: The supplementation group showed a fairly significant decrease in the total BIS-11c (P = .049). Total cognitive score slightly decreased in the diet and supplementation groups. Only the control group showed a considerable decrease in the total motor score. Total nonplanning scores were lower in all groups after the intervention. Baseline and final BIS-11c scores were positively correlated with treatments (r > 0.9). CONCLUSION: An intake of 550 mg EPA fatty acid and 225 mg DHA fatty acid per day for 8 weeks is associated with less marked impulsive behaviour in children with ADHD. A Mediterranean diet may improve BIS scores, although our results are not conclusive in this population.

Impulsiveness in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder after an 8-week intervention with the Mediterranean diet and/or omega-3 fatty acids: A randomised clinical trial. / Impulsividad en el trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad en niños después de una intervención de 8 semanas con dieta mediterránea y/o ácidos grasos omega-3: ensayo clínico aleatorizado.

INTRODUCTION: The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) is a self-administered instrument designed to assess the personality/behavioural construct of impulsiveness. Impulsiveness has been associated with several psychiatric disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study assesses the progression of impulsive behaviour in children with ADHD after an 8-week dietary intervention with the Mediterranean diet and/or omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, by using a version of the 11-item BIS adapted for children (BIS-11c). METHODS: This cross-sectional study includes 60 children with ADHD from the region of Madrid, Spain. Participants were divided into 4 groups, with one control group (G1) and 3 intervention groups (Mediterranean diet [G2]; omega-3 supplementation [G3]; and Mediterranean diet plus omega-3 supplementation [G4]). A personalised Mediterranean diet was designed for members of groups 2 and 4. The BIS-11c was administered to determine the level of impulsiveness, and the KIDMED test was used to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet. RESULTS: The supplementation group showed a fairly significant decrease in the total BIS-11c (P=.049). Total cognitive score slightly decreased in the diet and supplementation groups. Only the control group showed a considerable decrease in the total motor score. Total nonplanning scores were lower in all groups after the intervention. Baseline and final BIS-11c scores were positively correlated with treatments (r>0.9). CONCLUSION: An intake of 550mg EPA fatty acid and 225mg DHA fatty acid per day for 8 weeks is associated with less marked impulsive behaviour in children with ADHD. A Mediterranean diet may improve BIS scores, although our results are not conclusive in this population.

Histamine intolerance and dietary management: A complete review.

BACKGROUND: Present in several types of food, bioactive amines are described as organic bases of low molecular weight, which constitute a potential health risk. An awareness of amine levels in foods today is therefore important in relation to food safety and patient care. This review aims to emphasise the need to unify the information on the content of biogenic amines in foods and prevent patients' misunderstanding. METHODS: Selective literature search for relevant publications in PubMed and other scientific data bases combined with further data from the World Wide Web on histamine and other amines content in foods. RESULTS: Available reference sources do not reflect a homogeneous consensus, and the variation between foods makes it impossible for dieticians to accurately estimate amines content to correctly advise patients. CONCLUSIONS: To achieve the goal of collecting reliable information, all methods and tools used in analytical studies should be standardised and information exposed to patients should be verified.

[Analysis of the nutritional status and body composition of persons with intellectual disability]. / Analisis del estado nutricional y composicion corporal de personas con discapacidad intelectual.

INTRODUCTION: Intellectual disability refers to substantial limitations in intellectual functioning, affecting 0.7-1.5% of the population. People with intellectual disability have higher rates of obesity, since caloric values and nutritional status, are deficient. AIMS: To determine the nutritional habits, analyze the effectiveness of nutritional education and evaluate the possible effect of improvement introducing exercise and nutrition workshops, in a group of people with intellectual disability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical, nutritional and anthropometric (weight, height, body mass index, body fat, waist circumference) assessment was conducted in 47 patients. An ad hoc survey was designed in which exercise habits, medical and dietary history, record of 72 hours (including 2 weekdays and 1 weekend) and the adherence to Mediterranean diet data were collected. The workshops of exercise and nutrition counted with a structure of theoretical-practical explanation and games. RESULTS: 76.1% presented weight excess at baseline. After the intervention values of total body fat (-0.94 ± 4.4%) and visceral fat (-0.86 ± 2%), weight (-0.4 ± 3.3 kg) and body mass index (-0.2 ± 1.6 kg/m2) decreased, more in women than in men. 60.5% of subjects did not meet a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet. After nutritional intervention, a significant difference (p <= 0,001) was observed in the KidMed score. The workshop of physical activity had positive effects on the anthropometry of subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Both the intake and the prevalence of obesity in this group of people are inadequate. Nutritional education and physical exercise workshops are useful for working with this group, achieving significant changes to prevent obesity and improve their health.

TITLE: Analisis del estado nutricional y composicion corporal de personas con discapacidad intelectual.Introduccion. La discapacidad intelectual, definida como limitaciones sustanciales en el funcionamiento intelectual, afecta al 0,7-1,5% de la poblacion. Estas personas presentan mayores tasas de obesidad, y sus valores caloricos y estado nutricional son deficientes. Objetivos. Conocer los habitos nutricionales, analizar la eficacia de la educacion nutricional y evaluar la posible mejora, introduciendo talleres de ejercicio fisico y nutricion, en la discapacidad intelectual. Pacientes y metodos. Se realizo una valoracion clinica, nutricional y antropometrica (peso, talla, indice de masa corporal, grasa corporal, perimetro de la cintura) a 47 sujetos con discapacidad intelectual. Se registraron los habitos deportivos, la historia clinica y la historia dietetica mediante un registro alimentario y un cuestionario de adhesion a la dieta mediterranea (KidMed). Los talleres de nutricion y ejercicio fisico contaron con una estructura de explicacion teorica, practica y juegos. Resultados. El 76,1% presentaba exceso ponderal en el inicio del estudio. Tras la intervencion, los valores de grasa corporal (­0,94 ± 4,4%) y grasa visceral (­0,86 ± 2%), asi como el peso (­0,4 ± 3,3 kg) y el indice de masa corporal (­0,2 ± 1,6 kg/m2), disminuyeron, mas en las mujeres que en los hombres. El 60,5% no cumplia con una alta adhesion a la dieta mediterranea. Tras la intervencion, se observo una diferencia significativa (p <= 0,001) en la puntuacion del KidMed. El taller de actividad fisica tuvo efectos positivos sobre la antropometria. Conclusiones. La alimentacion fue inadecuada en la mayoria de los individuos. La prevalencia de obesidad fue elevada. Los talleres de educacion nutricional y de ejercicio son una herramienta util para trabajar con este colectivo, y consiguen cambios significativos para prevenir la obesidad y mejorar su salud.