TY - JOUR
T1 - The association between heightened ADHD symptoms and cytokine and fatty acid concentrations during pregnancy
AU - Gustafsson, Hanna C.
AU - Dunn, Geoffrey A.
AU - Mitchell, A. J.
AU - Holton, Kathleen F.
AU - Loftis, Jennifer M.
AU - Nigg, Joel T.
AU - Sullivan, Elinor L.
N1 - Funding Information:
Research reported in this publication was supported by the Abracadabra Foundation, the Bob and Charlee Moore Institute for Nutrition and Wellness, and by the National Institutes of Health under National Institute of Mental Health award numbers R3759105 (JN), R01MH117177 and R01MH124824 (ES and JN), K01MH120507 (HG), and R01MH117177-S1 (ES and JN). This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Portland Health Care System and OHSU, Portland, OR.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Gustafsson, Dunn, Mitchell, Holton, Loftis, Nigg and Sullivan.
PY - 2022/7/22
Y1 - 2022/7/22
N2 - Objective: Previous research conducted with samples of children suggest that individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have altered fatty acid concentrations and may have increased systemic inflammation. Whether these differences are also apparent in other populations of individuals with heightened ADHD symptoms (e.g., pregnant adults) is unknown. The goal of the current study was to examine whether there are ADHD-associated differences in polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations or pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations during pregnancy, a developmental period when fatty acid concentrations and systemic inflammation have implications for the health of both the pregnant person and the developing child. We hypothesized that plasma levels of the ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s (n-6:n-3) and plasma inflammatory cytokine levels would be higher in individuals with heightened ADHD symptoms, consistent with previous findings in children with ADHD. Methods: Data (N = 68) came from a prospective study of pregnant community volunteers who were oversampled for ADHD symptoms. During the 3rd trimester, plasma concentrations of fatty acids and the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were assessed. Dietary intake was examined in the 3rd trimester using three 24-h recalls conducted by trained dietitians and by examining plasma levels of conjugated linoleic acid (n-6) and α-linolenic acid (n-3), essential fatty acids that must come from dietary intake. Results: The group with heightened ADHD symptoms had higher n-6:n-3s (β = 0.30, p < 0.01) and higher TNF-α concentrations (β = 0.35, p < 0.001) relative to controls. There were no group differences in dietary variables, as assessed by self-report and via plasma concentrations of essential fatty acids. IL-6 was not reliably associated with ADHD status in this sample. Conclusion: Pregnant individuals with ADHD, on average, had higher plasma n-6:n-3s and higher TNF-α concentrations relative to controls. A difference was not detected in their dietary intake of fatty acids or other relevant nutrients. Though these null findings are inconclusive, they are consistent with the hypothesis that ADHD-associated differences in plasma fatty acid concentrations are the result of ADHD-associated differences in fatty acid metabolism, rather than simply differences in dietary intake.
AB - Objective: Previous research conducted with samples of children suggest that individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have altered fatty acid concentrations and may have increased systemic inflammation. Whether these differences are also apparent in other populations of individuals with heightened ADHD symptoms (e.g., pregnant adults) is unknown. The goal of the current study was to examine whether there are ADHD-associated differences in polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations or pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations during pregnancy, a developmental period when fatty acid concentrations and systemic inflammation have implications for the health of both the pregnant person and the developing child. We hypothesized that plasma levels of the ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s (n-6:n-3) and plasma inflammatory cytokine levels would be higher in individuals with heightened ADHD symptoms, consistent with previous findings in children with ADHD. Methods: Data (N = 68) came from a prospective study of pregnant community volunteers who were oversampled for ADHD symptoms. During the 3rd trimester, plasma concentrations of fatty acids and the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were assessed. Dietary intake was examined in the 3rd trimester using three 24-h recalls conducted by trained dietitians and by examining plasma levels of conjugated linoleic acid (n-6) and α-linolenic acid (n-3), essential fatty acids that must come from dietary intake. Results: The group with heightened ADHD symptoms had higher n-6:n-3s (β = 0.30, p < 0.01) and higher TNF-α concentrations (β = 0.35, p < 0.001) relative to controls. There were no group differences in dietary variables, as assessed by self-report and via plasma concentrations of essential fatty acids. IL-6 was not reliably associated with ADHD status in this sample. Conclusion: Pregnant individuals with ADHD, on average, had higher plasma n-6:n-3s and higher TNF-α concentrations relative to controls. A difference was not detected in their dietary intake of fatty acids or other relevant nutrients. Though these null findings are inconclusive, they are consistent with the hypothesis that ADHD-associated differences in plasma fatty acid concentrations are the result of ADHD-associated differences in fatty acid metabolism, rather than simply differences in dietary intake.
KW - ADHD
KW - interleukin-6 (IL-6)
KW - omega-3 fatty acids (n-3)
KW - omega-6 fatty acids (n-6)
KW - pregnancy
KW - pro-inflammatory cytokines
KW - tumor necrosis factor-α
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U2 - 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.855265
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.855265
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85135488013
SN - 1664-0640
VL - 13
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
JF - Frontiers in Psychiatry
M1 - 855265
ER -