Does Diet Affect the Symptoms of ADHD?

Abstract

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric diagnosis in childhood and adolescence, with an estimated worldwide-pooled prevalence of 5,29%. The type of treatment depends on several factors. Psychopharmacological treatment entails undesirable side effects, with unclear long-term benefits, which has led the scientific community to investigate other therapeutic approaches, such as dietary interventions. Method: The authors conducted a classical review on the current treatment recommended in individuals with ADHD diagnosis, their dietary patterns, as well as dietary factors possibly implicated in the etiology and treatment of this disorder. An extensive bibliographic research was carried out in the databases PubMed, The Cochrane Library and the National Guideline Clearinghouse. Discussion: The most common dietary interventions in the case of ADHD are food supplementation diets (e.g. PUFAs, vitamins) and elimination diets. Supplementation with omega-3 PUFAs lacks further studies that can validate them as an effective therapeutic approach in this disorder. Also, regarding vitamin supplementation, studies are not consistent as to their role in the etiology of ADHD. Elimination diets are unclear as to the benefits provided in individuals with ADHD. Children with ADHD are less likely to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors than non-ADHD youth. Conclusion: There is no clear evidence that supports dietary interventions for the treatment of ADHD. The effects of unhealthy diet patterns in ADHD individuals are not yet fully understood and, like the general population, children with ADHD may benefit from a healthy lifestyle.

Oligoantigenic Diet Improves Children’s ADHD Rating Scale Scores Reliably in Added Video-Rating

“…Although the same studies were analysed, the authors of several reviews evaluate the effectiveness of the OD differently. Some authors described an unclear effectiveness of the OD ( 72 , 74 , 78 ). “Taken together it remains inconclusive whether elimination diets are effective as a treatment for children with [… ] ADHD” ( 78 ).…”

“…Whereas others assessed the effectiveness to be relevant ( 16 , 75 , 77 ). These inconsistent evaluations emphasise the need of further studies on this subject ( 14 , 74 , 76 ). Stevenson ( 78 ) recommends a blinded rating.…”

“…A number of reviews discussed the OD as a treatment option in children with ADHD (9,14,16,(72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77)(78). Although the same studies were analysed, the authors of several reviews evaluate the effectiveness of the OD differently.…”

ADHS im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Update 2020

“…Auffällig ist eine relativ hohe Streubreite der Effektstärken nichtpharmakologischer Therapie [262], die vorwiegend durch methodische und persönliche Heterogenität erklärbar sein dürfte. Diät [59,93,198,237], pflanzliche Arzneimittel [13], Elimination von Lebensmittelfarben, Schwermetallentgiftung, Homöopathie etc. [20,307] zeigen keine nachweisbare Effizienz.…”

Individualizing the dosage of Methylphenidate in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

“…Stimulant drugs as the most commonly used treatment and first-line therapy for ADHD have side effects including abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, nervousness, insomnia, compulsive behaviors and movement disorders [13]. Unclear long-term benefits due to undesirable side effects of psychopharmacological treatments, caused scientific society to search for alternative approaches to its treatment [14].…”