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The Role of Nutritional Supplements in the Treatment of ADHD: What the Evidence Says

  • Attention-Deficit Disorder (A Rostain, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral disorder in children and adolescents and may persist into adulthood. Insufficient nutritional supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and other components including various minerals has been suggested to play a role in the development of ADHD symptoms. This review presents the evidence regarding the role of nutritional PUFA, zinc, iron, and magnesium supplements in the treatment of ADHD with a focus on the critical evaluation of the relevant literature published from 2014 to April 2016. The evaluation of therapeutic nutritional LC-PUFA supplementation in ADHD has shown mixed and inconclusive results and at best marginal beneficial effects. The benefits of PUFAs are much smaller than the effect sizes observed for traditional pharmacological treatments of ADHD. The effectiveness of PUFA supplements in reducing medication dosage has been suggested but needs to be confirmed. Zinc, iron, and magnesium supplementation may reduce ADHD symptoms in children with or at high risk of deficiencies in these minerals. However, convincing evidence in this regard is lacking.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93040, Regensburg, Germany

    Klaus W. Lange, Joachim Hauser, Katharina M. Lange, Ewelina Makulska-Gertruda, Yukiko Nakamura & Andreas Reissmann

  2. Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shiga University of Medical Science, Tsukinowa, Seta, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan

    Yuko Sakaue & Yoshihiro Takeuchi

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Shiga University of Medical Science, Tsukinowa, Seta, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan

    Tomoyuki Takano

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  1. Klaus W. Lange
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  2. Joachim Hauser
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  3. Katharina M. Lange
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Lange, K.W., Hauser, J., Lange, K.M. et al. The Role of Nutritional Supplements in the Treatment of ADHD: What the Evidence Says. Curr Psychiatry Rep 19, 8 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0762-1

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