From the Guidelines
Consuming non-processed foods does not have sufficient evidence to support its benefit in helping Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) according to the most recent and highest quality study. When considering the management of ADHD, it's essential to focus on established treatments with robust evidence. The 2019 clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents published in Pediatrics 1 indicates that diet modification has little or no benefit for ADHD-related problems. Some key points to consider in the context of ADHD management include:
- Established medication and behavioral treatments have robust evidence supporting their efficacy and safety
- Nonmedication treatments like mindfulness, cognitive training, and supportive counseling have either too little evidence or have been found to have little or no benefit
- The current evidence supporting treatment of ADHD with external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) is sparse and does not approach the strength of evidence for established treatments While dietary changes may be beneficial for overall health, the current evidence does not support the use of non-processed foods as a treatment for ADHD. Therefore, patients with ADHD should focus on conventional treatments with established efficacy and safety, such as medication and behavioral therapies, under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
From the Research
Association between Non-Processed Foods and ADHD
- Studies have shown that healthy dietary patterns, which include non-processed foods, are negatively associated with ADHD, while non-healthy dietary patterns are positively associated with the disorder 2, 3.
- A case-control study found that children with ADHD consumed more processed meat products and snacks than healthy controls, suggesting a link between unhealthy food consumption and ADHD symptoms 4.
- Another study found that children with ADHD are less likely to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors, including eating non-processed foods, than non-ADHD youth 5.
Dietary Interventions for ADHD
- Some studies suggest that dietary interventions, such as elimination diets, may be beneficial in reducing ADHD symptoms, but the evidence is not yet conclusive 2, 3, 6.
- A review of recent research found that probiotics and minerals may have beneficial effects on ADHD symptomatology, but more robust scientific evidence is needed to support their use as a therapeutic approach 3.
- Elimination diets, which involve removing certain foods from the diet, may be beneficial for some children with ADHD, but more research is needed to fully understand their effects 6.
Key Findings
- Inverse associations have been observed between adherence to "healthy" diets and ADHD symptoms 3.
- Children with ADHD who responded to the few-foods diet showed substantially improved behavior and cognitive functioning 3.
- Processed food consumption may be associated with ADHD symptoms, and children with ADHD may benefit from a healthy lifestyle, including eating non-processed foods 4, 5.