Role of vitamins and nutrients in the management of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a narrative review

Abstract

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder that affects individuals across all age groups, including children, adolescents, and adults. The etiology of ADHD involves lack of a number of nutrients and food components. However, certain dietary strategies have been suggested as additional therapy in this condition. Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and PubMed were among the databases searched for the studies. This review shed light on the correlation of dietary patterns with ADHD and to provide a concise summary of the current research about the practical application of dietary therapies. In the research, unhealthy eating habits were positively correlated with ADHD, but healthy eating habits were negatively correlated. Furthermore, there is a notable correlation between ADHD and a lack of certain nutrients, including iron, zinc, magnesium, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and vitamin D. The main limitation of this narrative review is the lack of scientific evidence. Although these dietary modifications are promising strategies for ADHD management, a stronger scientific proof is needed to be validated.