Correlation analysis of urinary iodine concentration with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children (Preprint)

BACKGROUND There is a known association between iodine deficiency and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but studies examining the impact of iodine intake, as indicated by urinary iodine concentration (UIC), on ADHD in children are inconclusive. OBJECTIVE To ascertain the relationship between UIC and ADHD in children. METHODS Cross-sectional data from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 to 2004 were utilized. Weighted linear regression models and restricted cubic splines were applied to investigate the relationship between UIC and ADHD in children, with gender-specific subgroup analyses. RESULTS A total of 1,233 children were included in the study, among whom 93 had ADHD. There was a noteworthy positive correlation between ln(UIC) and ADHD risk, with no significant nonlinear relationship (OR: 1.69, P