Is there a place for dietetic interventions in adult ADHD?

Vitor Breda; Raphael O Cerqueira; Gilciane Ceolin; Elena Koning; Jennifer Fabe; Alexandra McDonald; Fabiano A Gomes; Elisa Brietzke

doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110613

Is there a place for dietetic interventions in adult ADHD?

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Dec 20:119:110613. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110613. Epub 2022 Aug 12.

Authors

Vitor Breda¹, Raphael O Cerqueira², Gilciane Ceolin³, Elena Koning⁴, Jennifer Fabe⁵, Alexandra McDonald⁶, Fabiano A Gomes⁷, Elisa Brietzke⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University School of Medicine, 752 King Street West, Kingston, ON K7L 7X3, Canada; Centre for Neuroscience Studies (CNS), Queen's University, 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Major Maragliano 241, São Paulo, SP 04017-030, Brazil.
³ Postgraduate Program in Nutrition, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Rua Delfino Conti, Campus Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-970, Brazil.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University School of Medicine, 752 King Street West, Kingston, ON K7L 7X3, Canada; Centre for Neuroscience Studies (CNS), Queen's University, 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ McMasters Children's Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, 1200 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University School of Medicine, 752 King Street West, Kingston, ON K7L 7X3, Canada; Centre for Neuroscience Studies (CNS), Queen's University, 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University School of Medicine, 752 King Street West, Kingston, ON K7L 7X3, Canada; Centre for Neuroscience Studies (CNS), Queen's University, 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 35964708
DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110613

Abstract

Current treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults are limited by lack of response and side effects in about one third of the individuals. Changes towards a healthier lifestyle could have a positive impact beyond the relief of specific symptoms. However, it is not clear if nutritional interventions influence mental health and cognition. The objective of this study was to summarize the available literature addressing the impact of different diets in ADHD. The most promising dietetic approaches in ADHD are diets considered to be healthy (Mediterranean-type; DASH) and the Few-Foods Diet for children. Studies should take into account the presence of multiple confounders, biases associated with difficulties in blinding participants and researchers, and search for possible mechanisms of action, so we can have better evidence to guide clinical mental care of adults with ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; Adult ADHD; Cognition; Diet; Lifestyle; Nutrition.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / drug therapy
Child
Diet
Dietetics*
Humans