Meals, Microbiota & Mental Health of Children & Adolescents

Recent studies indicate that the interplay between diet, intestinal microbiota composition, and intestinal permeability might impact mental health. The aim of thisl study is to compare diet, intestinal microbiota, intestinal permeability, and related metabolic factors among children and adolescents diagnosed with mental health disorders and control groups and identify potential relationship patterns. All children and adolescents referred to the outpatient clinic at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at The National University Hospital in Reykjavik Iceland will be offered to participate (n=15) (age 5-15 years). Two control groups will be used; the same parent siblings close in age (n=x) as well as age and sex-matched children from the same postal area (n=15). A three-day food diary, rating scales for mental health and multiple questionnaires will be completed as well as faecal sample, buccal swab, urine, saliva and blood samples will be collected. This is a novel approach as more multidimensional transdisciplinary studies including longitudinal observational data have been called for as a basis for lifestyle treatment options for improving mental health and wellness.