Dietary inflammatory index (DII) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a cross-sectional study in US children and adolescents and Mendelian randomization study

We observed a U-shaped association between the DII and ADHD risk. The Frailty Index may partially mediate (5.49%) the association between DII and ADHD. However, the cross-sectional design precludes causal inference. Fruit liking lowered ADHD risk, while red meat/onion liking increased risk. ADHD was associated with a generalized reduction in liking for a wide range of foods. Future studies should investigate the role of a moderate-inflammatory diet in ADHD prevention.