Micronutrients and Diets in the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Chances and Pitfalls
Klaus W. Lange
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses in childhood and adolescence. It is characterized by age-inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity and is associated with long-term academic, social, and mental health problems (1, 2). Both pharmacotherapy and behavior therapy yield short-term symptom reduction in individuals with ADHD. Psychostimulants, in particular, have been shown to improve attention and to decrease activity levels in children in the short term. However, their impact on academic performance and quality of life is low (3, 4), and initial symptomatic effects are not usually sustained on long-term follow-up The unproven long-term efficacy of commonly used ADHD drugs, together with concerns in regard to adverse effects of medication, which can be as serious as growth retardation and severe cardiovascular events (7, 8), has led to a search for alternative treatment options.