A new study out of Harvard Med School that concludes dietary changes and nutritional supplements may be as effective as Ritalin in the treatment of ADHD. =
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12946241&dopt=Abstract

So what kind of things should we be eating?

Note that this study was limited to 20 children, and is probably NOT statistically representative of the ADHD population

Granted the sample is small - but the study clearly states that both groups experienced significant improvements which were indistinguishable from each other. This is a rather bold statement and certainly one would think deserving of a larger study. Frankly my interest is piqued.

Interesting. Now we await peer review and scrutiny before this study is valid.

Originally posted by why
Granted the sample is small - but the study clearly states that both groups experienced significant improvements which were indistinguishable from each other. This is a rather bold statement and certainly one would think deserving of a larger study. Frankly my interest is piqued.

I agree.

There have been similar studies in relation to Omega-3 and Depression, Bipolar and Scitzophrenia. They are just beginning to study it in relation to AD/HD. I think it's a great start. I really hope the researchers delve deeper into this.

I'd like to know more about the tests they used to evaluate the serverity of the children's ADD synmptoms. I do know that ADDers often perform much better under the pressure and artifical structure of an organized examination. An insignificant difference in testing performance might become a huge difference when the distractions of a home or classroom setting come into play.

It seems to me that the subjective obervations of teachers and parents would be a far better measure of success.

I'm very interested in hearing about this too...

ElSenor, it says that both groups IMPROVED by the same amount.

If it were simply a question of the test conditions inducing better focusing in the subjects, should not both groups have remained approximately the same?

No. From my original post:
"An insignificant difference in testing performance might become a huge difference when the distractions of a home or classroom setting come into play."

That the tests have some ability to measure the serverity of ADD synmptoms does not mean that they can measure that serverity with decent precision.

Furthermore, note the absense of a control group that recieved no treatment but took the tests. The children recieved more experience with the tests over time. How much did this improve their scores? Did the researchers coach the children at all on improving their test scores? Did they coach one group of children more than the other?

I'm not aware of any test battery for the serverity of ADD synmptoms whose results have been demonstrated to correlate with the observations of parents and teachers. All of the major efficacy studies for ADD drugs have used the observations of the subjects or obervations of parents/teachers as the primary metric. They use tests only when looking for effects on specific cognitive functions.

So, why did these particular researchers feel the need to change the measurement? Why was there no control? Why couldn't they have made it at least a single-blind trial so the physicians administering the tests were unaware of the group being tested?

I'm no expert, but to me this seems likely to be one of those small, poorly designed studies whose results were manufactured from the start.

-Mike

You do make many valid points. But I am still interested in seeing more research done.

I'm sure once the nutrtional companies start funding research like the drug companies do we will see a lot more research...

I would like to see each group of ten swap to the other and see if the results continue.

Alternatively; as the children are still developing, consider the benefit of getting the following:

The dietary supplements used were a mix of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, amino acids, essential fatty acids, phospholipids, and probiotics that attempted to address the AD/HD biochemical risk factors.

I would guess that possibly any growing child may benefit from such a structured cocktail of goodies, ADD or no ADD.

I do want to know what the mix is to at least give it a go. Any likelyhood of contacting the author to see what the mix is?

I'll play guinee pig :)

Sleepz

I'd love for this to be replicated and found to be valid and reliable.They at least used a CPT as it should be used;in research and not diagnosis.I'll keep a watchful/hopeful eye on it.Until then, I won't change my perspective.

Here's a good book tho for those intersted in diet & ADHD........ Helping Your ADD Child by John Taylor.Hes been around a long time andd is a very nice man.

Big put it very succinctly when he pointed out there were only 20 kids in the sample........ thats nowhere near enough to mean anything statistically. You can bet tho that others will try and replicate the study, hopefully with a bigger sample.

The word to apply to a 20 kid study is "Promising", not "conclusive".

Though I do remember my brain being much clearer when I briefly went on a low/no sugar diet.

Anyone able to figure out how to squeeze more info out of that webpage, like diet used, or ???

Sigh -- the sample size is a bit small for the number of measurements they took. This looks like a "teaser" pilot study, designed to justify future grant proposals -- LOL.

However, I hope they get a follow-on. There hasn't been enough real science to back up the nutritionist's claims (IMHO), but "you are what you eat" xp

Any help from any quarter is good news for me. I don't see it as an "either/or" situation. I have no problem taking meds and watching my diet, if both are proven helps. The mo' the betta'.


Ken

bingo vin.

Mom recently saw a doctor that CURED her of diabetes by putting her on a special diet. I jokingly comments how much of a burden it was that she's supposed to eat healthy for the rest of her life.

Eating right and taking supplements sure isn't going to hurt you even if it doesn't cure your ADD.