title: Is high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency a correlate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the association between vitamin D and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and difference in the level of vitamin D in ADHD children and control. This a case-control study carried out in school health and primary health care clinics. A total of 1,331 children and adolescents who were diagnosed with ADHD based on clinical criteria and standardized questionnaires were enrolled in this study and were matched with 1,331 controls, aged 5-18 years old. Data on body mass index (BMI), clinical biochemistry variables including serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D were collected. The study found significant association between ADHD and vitamin D deficiency after adjusting for BMI and sex (adj. OR 1.54; 95 % CI 1.32-1.81; P < 0.001). Majority of the ADHD children were in the age group 5-10 years (40.7 %), followed by 11-13 years (38.4 %). The proportion of BMI <85th percentile was significantly over represented in ADHD group as compared to healthy control (87.8 vs. 83 %; P < 0.001, respectively), while on the other hand, BMI >95th percentile was over represented in the control than ADHD group (7.6 vs. 4.6 %; P < 0.001, respectively). Mean values of vitamin D (ng/mL) were significantly lower in ADHD children (16.6 ± 7.8) than in healthy children (23.5 ± 9.0) (P < 0.001). There was significant correlation between vitamin D deficiency and age (r = -0.191, P = 0.001); calcium (r = 0.272, P = 0.001); phosphorous (r = 0.284, P = 0.001); magnesium (r = 0.292, P = 0.001); and BMI (r = 0.498, P = 0.001) in ADHD children. The vitamin D deficiency was higher in ADHD children compared to healthy children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, State of Qatar.
authors.forename: Madeeha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.forename: Abdulbari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bener
authors.forename: Mohammad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ehlayel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D010758:Phosphorus; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium