In a new
study, researchers at Washington and Lee University
in Virginia
demonstrated that a Western style diet can cause ADHD like symptoms in
rats. Previous research has demonstrated
that obesity and Western diet are both associated with development of ADHD in
humans, however, no one had demonstrated that diet was actually the cause of
these symptoms. In this study, the
researchers fed rats a Western style diet (red meat, high in sugar, fat and
refined grains) or a control diet for 10 weeks.
They then tested the rats' performance in various behavioral tests. They found that the rats fed the Western
style diet showed impulsivity and hyperactivity compared to control rats.
What this means
- This study was done in rats, so it is possible that it does not apply to humans at all.
- It is unlikely that the Western style diet is the only cause of ADHD in humans, due to the large amount of evidence that genetics plays a role. However it could mean that ADHD symptoms could be worsened or triggered by the Western style diet.
- Since the Western style diet seems to be associated with or cause a number of other medical problems, including diabetes and obesity, a more prudent diet including more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, chicken and fish would be unlikely to have significant risk. The potential gain of avoiding ADHD symptoms might be well worth making this dietary change.
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