Dietary Changes Provide Benefits For ADHD

As research on ADHD continues to evolve, a leading hypothesis has been that children with ADHD may have specific nutrient deficiencies that aggravate their condition. As researchers learn more about the intersection and correlation between diet and behavioral disorders, the case for nutritional intervention among children with ADHD becomes more compelling.

A number of behavioral and nutritional strategies have also been found to have some effect at improving symptoms of ADHD, and potentially reducing the amount of medications required. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have just completed an extensive report which reviews the studies which have been done so far on the significance of diet for children and young people with ADHD.

The report indicates that there are potential benefits for introducing modifications to the diets of children with ADHD that might contribute to the management of the disorder. Kim Fleischer Michaelsen, of the Department of Human Nutrition at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, is heading the study and stresses that more research is needed: “Several of the studies show, for example, that fatty acids from fatty fish moderate the symptoms. Other studies detect no effect.”

“Elimination diets are also promising. These look at whether there is anything in the diet which the children cannot consume without adverse side effects. However, we still lack knowledge about which children with ADHD benefit from dietary changes, how positive the effect is in the long term and what the changes mean for children’s health.”

It is difficult to assign ADHD to a single cause—it is most likely a combination of genetic, environmental and nutritional factors. Consequently, most experts recommend a multidisciplinary, team-based approach to both diagnosis and treatment. Although the success so far has been limited, the fact that benefits can be imparted through dietary changes provides some indication of progress, and has given a few promising leads towards more foundational answers.