The use of diet interventions to treat symptoms of ADHD in children and adolescents – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background: For over forty years diet interventions have been investigated as a treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents and, with the new discoveries of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, this research becomes more relevant than ever. The aim of this systematic review was therefore to investigate the current knowledge of diet interventions as a treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents

Methods: A systematic literature search in PubMed was conducted, identifying randomized controlled trials investigating diet interventions to treat ADHD in children and adolescents.

Results: The study populations were generally small and the studies varied in duration and nature of the exposure. Overall 10 out of 12 studies spoke in favour of an elimination diet, 2 out of 6 of eliminating artificial food colourings from the diet and none in favour of eliminating sucrose or aspartame from the diet to treat ADHD.

Conclusion: The current evidence is not enough to recommend treating ADHD with diet interventions, but a subgroup of children and adolescents might warrant from elimination of certain food-items. Further investigations of the mechanism and effect of diet interventions to treat ADHD is needed.

Keywords:

• Systematic review
• ADHD
• diet-intervention
• children
• adolescents

Disclosure statement

Nanna Maria Uldall Torp has nothing to disclose. Per Hove Thomsen has received speakers fee from Shire and Medice during last three years.

Author contributions

Study idea and design: NMT, PHT; acquisition of data: NMT; analysis and interpretation of data: NMT, PHT; drafting of manuscript: NMT, PHT; critical revision: PHT.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nanna Maria Uldall Torp

Nanna Maria Uldall Torp is a medical doctor from Aarhus University, graduating with distinction in January 2020. During her studies, she has published an article, “Cholecystitis and risk of pancreatic, liver and biliary tract surgery in patients undergoing cholecystectomy”. Her interests include the microbiota and its relation to child and adolescent psychiatry

Per Hove Thomsen

Per Hove Thomsen is an MD, DMSc, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Aarhus University, Health, Department of Clinical Medicine and at Aarhus University Hospital, Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Primary research in ADHD, Tourette Syndrome and OCD. Author of approx. 250 scientific papers and numerous books on child and adolescent psychiatry.