The association between nutrition and ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) symptoms in children is a matter of continuous research and discussion. While nutrition can help some children manage some elements of ADHD symptoms, it’s crucial to remember that ADHD is a complex neurodevelopmental illness with numerous origins, and diet is unlikely to be the main predictor of ADHD symptoms.
Here’s a good reason for youngsters with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to eat their fruits and vegetables: According to a new study, it may help lessen concerns about inattention. As part of a broader study, researchers asked parents of 134 children with ADHD symptoms to fill out a detailed questionnaire on the typical foods their children ate, including portion sizes, over a 90-day period.
Another questionnaire asked parents to score their children’s symptoms of inattention, which is a hallmark of ADHD, such as problems staying focused, not following directions, difficulty remembering things, and difficulty regulating emotions.
According to Irene Hatsu, co-author of the study and associate professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University, children who ingested more fruits and vegetables had less severe signs of inattention.
Our studies suggest that it is worthwhile to check the children’s access to food as well as the quality of their diet to see if it may be contributing to their symptom severity.
Irene Hatsu
“Eating a healthy diet, including fruits and vegetables, may be one way to reduce some of the symptoms of ADHD,” Hatsu said. The study was published online recently in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience.
The data for this study came from the Micronutrients for ADHD in Youth (MADDY) Study, which looked at the efficacy of a 36-ingredient vitamin and mineral supplement in treating ADHD symptoms and poor emotional regulation in 134 children aged 6 to 12.
The study that tested the supplement’s effectiveness found that children who took the micronutrients were three times more likely than those who took a placebo to demonstrate substantial improvement in their ADHD and emotional dysregulation symptoms. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry last year.
Another study involving the same children, published earlier this year in the journal Nutrients, found that children from food-insecure families were more likely to exhibit severe symptoms of emotional dysregulation, such as chronic irritability, angry moods, and outbursts of anger. According to Hatsu, the three studies all paint a similar picture: a nutritious diet that includes all of the nutrients that children require can help lessen the symptoms of ADHD in children.
“What clinicians usually do when kids with ADHD start having more severe symptoms is increase the dose of their treatment medication, if they are on one, or put them on medication,” Hatsu said. “Our studies suggest that it is worthwhile to check the children’s access to food as well as the quality of their diet to see if it may be contributing to their symptom severity.”
Children in the MADDY study were recruited from three different locations: Columbus, Ohio; Portland, Oregon; and Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. The research was conducted between 2018 and 2020. Participants were either not taking medication or had ceased taking it two weeks prior to the start of the trial.
The investigations on fruit and vegetable intake and the influence of food insecurity were based on data collected when the children were originally recruited in the trial, prior to beginning to take the micronutrient supplement or placebo.
Why may diet be so important in ADHD?
According to Hatsu, researchers believe that ADHD is linked to low levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, and vitamins and minerals play a crucial role as cofactors in helping the body create those important neurochemicals and in overall brain function. Food insecurity may also have an impact.
“Everyone gets irritated when they’re hungry, and children with ADHD are no exception. If they’re not getting enough food, it could aggravate their symptoms,” she explained. Furthermore, the stress of parents who are angry about not being able to provide adequate food for their children can cause family friction, which can contribute to increased symptoms in children with ADHD.
According to Hatsu, the MADDY study is one of the first to look at the association between ADHD symptoms and diet quality in children in the United States and Canada. This is significant since Western diets, unlike many others, such as the Mediterranean diet, are more prone to fall short on fruit and vegetable intake, according to her.
“We believe clinicians should assess the food security status of children with ADHD before creating or changing a treatment program,” Hatsu said in a statement. “Some symptoms might be more manageable by helping families become more food secure and able to provide a healthier diet.”
