The effect of school meal supplementation with Anethum graveolens leaves on ADHD for mentally disabled children

Document Type : Original Article

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Home Economics Dept, Nutrition & food science, Faculty of Specific Education, Ain Shams Univ.

Abstract

The current study aims to determine the effect of school meal supplementation with (Anethum graveolens) leaves powders as a good source of magnesium, zinc and calcium on decreasing ADHD symptoms for mentally disabled children. Children from Model Center for Intellectual Education who were mentally impaired participated in the study. The analyzed sample consists of 25 kids (8–12 years old). The socioeconomic, personal and dietary factors, as well as the clinical indicators, 24-hour recall, and eating patterns besides, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had been analyzed. The nutritional intervention was by adding 25g of Anethum graveolens leaves powder into one cup of yogurt besides taking ADHD children to their normal school meal. The findings showed a significant improvement in calcium and magnesium consumption between the pre- and post-intervention periods, with a difference ratio between (48-54%). However, there were statistically significant differences in the mean overall degree of ADHD (375,297) of behavioral test before and after dietary intervention, favoring the post intervention. These might be connected to an increase in calcium, magnesium, and zinc intake as a result of the addition of dill to school meals. The results indicated that consumes Anethum graveolens leaves (25g of powder per day) as a good source of magnesium, zinc, and calcium can decrease the symptoms of ADHD in mentally challenged children. 

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