Evidence mapPaperPMID 41340064Full record

ArticleLipids in health and disease2025

Association between dietary n-6/n-3 ratio and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among American children and adolescents: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Lijin Wang, Yanxia Wang, Ling Li

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Article in Lipids in health and disease, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Lijin WangChildren's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University (Jinan Children's Hospital), No. 23976, Jingshi Road, Yingshi Street, Huaiyin District, Jinan, Shandong, 250022, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-2399-8094
Yanxia WangMathematics Teacher, Tengzhou Yucai Middle School, Tengzhou, Shandong, China.
Ling LiChildren's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University (Jinan Children's Hospital), No. 23976, Jingshi Road, Yingshi Street, Huaiyin District, Jinan, Shandong, 250022, China. ll.816@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIndustrialized eating habits have disrupted the balance between n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, a change reflected in human tissue composition. Increased n-6 to n-3 ratios may contribute to the emergence of several neurodevelopmental conditions. This study aims to determine how the balance between dietary n-6 and n-3 fatty acids relates to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in kids and teenagers in the U.S.

methodsData were derived from 5,882 participants aged 4-15 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2004. To examine the connection between dietary n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratios and ADHD, multivariable logistic regression models were utilized. Additionally, restricted cubic spline models were used to analyze dose-response relationships while conducting stratified, interaction, and sensitivity analyses to support the robustness of the findings.

resultsAmong 5,882 participants, 386 (6.6%) were diagnosed with ADHD. Relative to the lowest tertile (T1: < 8.56), participants in the second tertile (T2: 8.56-11.21) exhibited a 44% higher adjusted likelihood of having ADHD (95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.90; P = 0.011), while those in the top tertile (T3: > 11.21) had a 49% increased adjusted likelihood of having ADHD (95% confidence interval: 1.11-1.99; P = 0.007). Restricted cubic-spline modeling revealed an approximately linear relationship between dietary n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratios and ADHD risk, without significant non-linearity (P = 0.547). These findings remained consistent in subgroup and sensitivity analyses.

conclusionsHigher ratios of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids in diets correlated with a greater likelihood of ADHD in American kids and teens. These findings suggest that dietary modification to restore a healthier fatty acid balance reduces ADHD risk. Further research, particularly long-term cohort studies and randomized controlled trials, remains warranted to establish causality and to determine whether reducing the n-6 to n-3 ratio provides protective effects.

Indexed as

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityFatty Acids, Omega-3Fatty Acids, Omega-6AdolescentChildChild, PreschoolDietFemaleHumansMaleNutrition SurveysUnited StatesFatty Acids, Omega-3Fatty Acids, Omega-6Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivityCross-sectional studiesDietary ratioDose–response relationship

Identifiers

PMID41340064
PMCPMC12781451

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