Dietary Management of Attention Deficit Disorder

Abstract

The effects of diet on ADHD behaviours is reviewed. Early studies failed to eliminate sufficient problem-causing foods, to recognise the validity of parental observations, to rate adequately some of the most common symptoms such as irritability and sleep disturbance rather than hyperactivity, and focused on the effects of sugar, which has been shown not to cause behaviour changes. More recent studies show that additive-free diets alone are of little benefit and broader dietary intervention is required. The mechanism for behavioural reactions to foods is food intolerance, not allergy. A low-chemical elimination diet followed by challenges can assist in identifying provoking food chemicals. Dietary management can be part of multimodal treatment of ADHD. Parents who wish to pursue dietary management should be assisted in their efforts and referred to a dietitian.