Improvement of attention deficit hyperactive disorder for deaf female children by intake pumpkin seeds

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Home Economics Dept, Nutrition & food science “Special Education”, Faculty of Specific Education, Ain Shams Univ.Cairo,Egypt

Abstract

        The study aims to investigate the effect of intake pumpkin seeds as sources of magnesium and iron on improvement of the nutritional status and attention deficit of deaf female children with hyper active disorder (ADHD) symptoms. The range of sample age was 10-12 years for 40 female children who born deaf, suffering from ADHD and their hearing loss was 91 decibel or more. The investigated ADHF deaf female children were selected from El Amal school for the deaf and hard of hearing, Elsayeda Zenab. They were divided into two groups; the control group and the experimental one (20 female for each).The study used the data for each child;  the personal and  socio-economic, the food habits, the diet history, 24 recall and the clinical signs. In addition to the Attention Deficit Disorder Connected with Hyperactivity for Deaf Children test (ADDCHDC). The nutritional intervention was 50g from pumpkin seeds that contained an approximately 100% of Recommended Dietary intake (RNI) from magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe). Pumpkin seeds were used for three months with experimental group. The results indicated that deficiency in the average intake pre dietary intervention in experimental and control group for Mg comparing with RNI was 12.5 and 13%, respectively, and in Fe was (38.5) in both groups. However, Mg levels were higher in the experimental group post dietary intervention than control group (138 and14.5%, respectively). Also, Fe level was 149% in experimental group and 36.8% compared with RNI. On the other hand, the improvement in degree of ADDCHDC test for experimental group (post dietary intervention) was better than that in control group (65 and 95, respectively). There were statistically significant differences between pre and post dietary intervention to experimental group on Mg level and ADDCHDC test degree at (P <0.01) and at (P <0.05) in Fe.In conclusion, increments for intake of pumpkin seeds 50g /day, which give 100% RNI for magnesium and iron, improved attention deficit hyper active status for deaf children with ADHD.
 

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