Journal of Food Bioactives, ISSN 2637-8752 print, 2637-8779 online
Journal website www.isnff-jfb.com

Viewpoint

Volume 4, Number , December 2018, pages 1-7

Do food bioactives play a role in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

Table

Table 1. Problems surrounding a role of food bioactives in ADHD
 
General problems of ADHD research
  No biological or neuropsychological markers; no evidence of brain disorder.
  Diagnosis based on subjective assessment of symptoms.
  Validity and reliability of descriptive approach to diagnosis?
  Overdiagnosis of ADHD due to nonspecific attention problems.
  High rates of comorbid disorders.
  Heterogeneous and non-representative study samples.
Summary: ADHD is an ill-defined and clinically heterogeneous condition.
Findings on medication in ADHD
  Short-term improvements in ratings of core symptoms.
  Assessment of effects only on symptoms, not on pathophysiology.
  Concerns regarding effects on clinically and ecologically relevant outcome measures.
  Concerns regarding long-term efficacy (>12 weeks).
  Decreased efficacy of long-term use due to tolerance?
  Concerns regarding long-term safety; adverse events in adults?
Summary: Inconclusive evidence of benefits and harms of medication; alternative treatment options needed.
Findings on food bioactives in ADHD
  Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals are main bioactives analyzed.
  Correlations between food bioactives and presence or severity of symptoms (causality?).
  Several limitations of available studies.
  No long-term randomized controlled treatment trials available.
  No evidence of a role of single bioactives in pathogenesis or treatment of ADHD.
  Benefits of certain food bioactives confined to people with micronutrient deficiencies?
  Optimal dosages, combinations, and durations of administration?
  Critical phases of brain development for bioactives?
  Use of outcome measures including functioning, quality of life, and adaptive skills needed.
  Large-scale, prospective, randomized controlled trials of food bioactives needed.
  Dietary patterns may be of greater importance than individual nutrients.
Summary: Inconclusive evidence of role of individual food bioactives; dietary patterns and interaction with other lifestyle factors may be more important.