The link between margarine and ADHD

This post includes a synopsis of a paper published in Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids 2009 Jul;81(1):89-96 and a recipe for pork roast and cabbage.

Study title and authors:
Project DyAdd: Fatty acids in adult dyslexia, ADHD, and their comorbid combination.
Laasonen M, Hokkanen L, Leppämäki S, Tani P, Erkkilä AT.
Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9 (Siltavuorenpenger 20), FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland. Marja.Laasonen@helsinki.fi

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19523794

Books:

The study compared the dietary fats of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, both disorders, and healthy controls.

The results of the study showed that:
(a)  ADHD and dyslexia were not associated with saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, or omega-3 polyunsaturated fats.
(b) Those with ADHD had elevated proportions of omega-6 polyunsaturated fats as compared to those without ADHD.
(c) Dyslexia was related to a higher proportion of monounsaturated nervonic acid and a higher ratio of omega-6/omega-3 polyunsaturated fats.

List of the top 20 foods highest in Total Omega-6 polyunsaturated fat per 100-gram serving.

1 Oil, vegetable safflower, salad or cooking, linoleic, (over 70%) Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 74615mg
2 Oil, vegetable, grapeseed Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 69591mg
3 Oil, vegetable, sunflower, linoleic, (approx. 65%) Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 65702mg
4 Oil, vegetable, poppyseed Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 62391mg
5 USDA Commodity Food, oil, vegetable, low saturated fat Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 57724mg
6 Oil, wheat germ Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 54797mg
7 Oil, vegetable, corn, industrial and retail, all purpose salad or cooking Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 53510mg
8 Oil, vegetable, walnut Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 52894mg
9 Salad dressing, mayonnaise, soybean and safflower oil, with salt Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 52002mg
10 Oil, vegetable, cottonseed, salad or cooking Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 51503mg
11 Oil, vegetable, industrial, soy, refined, for woks and light frying Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 51288mg
12 Oil, vegetable, tomatoseed Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 50796mg
13 Oil, soybean, salad or cooking Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 50422mg
14 USDA Commodity Food, oil, vegetable, soybean, refined Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 50293mg
15 Oil, cooking and salad, ENOVA, 80% diglycerides Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 45937mg
16 Oil, soybean, salad or cooking, (hydrogenated) and cottonseed Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 45307mg
17 Oil, sesame, salad or cooking Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 41304mg
18 Oil, vegetable, industrial, soy (partially hydrogenated ) and soy (winterized), pourable clear fry Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 40947mg
19 Mayonnaise dressing, no cholesterol Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 40567mg
20 USDA Commodity Food, shortening, type III, creamy liquid, soybean and soybean (partially hydrogenated) Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 40204mg

Most of the top 20 omega-6 foods are vegetable oils such as soy, sunflower and safflower which are extensively used in the manufacture of margarine. See here.

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Recipe of the day

Pork Roast & Cabbage

Ingredients:

Food Mall: Pork Roast

2 cups of cooked pork roast, chopped
1/2 head of cabbage

2 large onions, chopped
juice of 1 fresh lemon
1/3 cup of tomato juice
pepper and cayenne pepper to taste

Instructions:
Saute cabbage, pork and onions in olive oil.

Add lemon juice, tomato juice and seasonings and cook covered until vegetables are tender.