Food intake and serum levels of iron in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate hematologic variables related to iron deficiency and food intake in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.


METHODS
The sample comprised 62 children and adolescents (6-15 years old) divided into three groups: Group 1: 19 (30.6%) patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder using methylphenidate for 3 months; Group 2: 22 (35.5%) patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder who were methylphenidate naive and Group 3: 21 (33.9%) patients without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, nutritional diagnostic parameters - Body Mass Index Coefficient, food surveys were evaluated among the groups.


RESULTS
The attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder group drug naive for methylphenidate presented the highest red cell distribution width among the three groups (p = 0.03). For all other hematologic and food survey variables, no significant differences were found among the groups. No significant correlation between dimensional measures of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and ferritin levels was found in any of the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Peripheral markers of iron status and food intake of iron do not seem to be modified in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, but further studies assessing brain iron levels are needed to fully understand the role of iron in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder pathophysiology.
ADHD Outpatient Program, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcellos 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. marciamenegassi@gmail.com
Márcia
M
Menegassi
Elza Daniel de
ED
Mello
Lísia Rejane
LR
Guimarães
Breno Córdova
BC
Matte
Fernanda
F
Driemeier
Gabriela Lima
GL
Pedroso
Luis Augusto
LA
Rohde
Marcelo
M
Schmitz
D000293:Adolescent; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D008774:Methylphenidate