Hi, there. I was just reading this post and thought it might be of interest to people.

Admin's Note: url removed, post added below

And now to find out what, in common-food terms, phytonutritionals and glyconutritionals are...

ADMIN'S NOTE: You should be aware that the following study was sponsored by Mannatech (tm) Inc., Coppell, Texas, the company that manufactures the phytonutritionals and glyconutritionals that are evaluated in this "study". The ADD Forums does not support, approve or disapprove, or hold any opinion of Mannatech (tm) Inc. or of its products, which were all supplied by Mannatech (tm) Inc. for this study.

As with all nutritional supplements, which are not regulated by the FDA, talk to your doctor, do lots of research and be very careful before changing your dietary regimen or medications.

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Effect of Nutritional Supplements on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Symptoms and Methylphenidate Dosage
Kathryn D. Dykman, M.D. and Roscoe A. Dykman, Ph.D. -Arkansas Children's Hospital - Little Rock, Arkansas
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INTRODUCTION
This study was designed to follow the change in severity of symptoms after dietary supplementation of phytonutritionals and glyconutritionals in three groups of school children each having confirmed diagnosis of Attention -Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) . The phytonutritional supplement consisted of naturally occurring, food- grade polysaccharides combined with flash freeze-dried, vine-ripened fruits and vegetables. Basic saccharides, known to be important in cell communication and the healthy functioning of the human body, are a part of the glyconutritional supplement (e.g., galactose, glucose, mannose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, fucose, N-acetylgalactosamin, and xylose) (Murray, et al.Harper's Biochemistry, 1996). Nature uses the carbohydrates on glycoconjugates as recognition molecules to convey biological information. Via enzymes, the body breaks down plant carbohydrates , restructures them into small sugars, and then uses those sugars to form glycoproteins and glycolipids. Our main dietary sources of saccharides are glucose and galactose, and a large number of important metabolic steps are involved in the conversion of these to the other saccharides (Zubay, et al., Principles of Biochemistry, 1995). It is believed that the body is not able to make the optimal conversions to the necessary sugar forms using only glucose and galactose (Murray, et al., Harper's Biochemistry, 1996).

RATIONALE
Several parents reported to the senior author that their children with ADHD had improvements in their symptoms after taking a product containing glyconutritionals* and/or another product consisting of naturally occurring food-grade polysaccharides and phytonutritionals (flash freeze-dried broccoli, Brussels spout, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, garlic, kale, onion, papaya, pineapple, tomato, and turnip) formulated in a base of vegetables gelatin and natural fruit fructose**. We hypothesized that the effective ingredients in reducing ADHD symptoms, particularly inattentiveness, were most likely the dietary monosaccharides. This was based on reports of parents asserting that the ability of their children to sustain attention was enhanced by the intake of the phytonutritionals and/or glyconutritionals

OBJECTIVE
The study objective was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of adding glyconutritionals and phytonutritionals to the diets of children with confirmed ADHD diagnoses. This was accomplished by following the change in severity of symptoms in three groups of children.

METHODOLOGY
The subjects were recruited from a local ADHD parent support group. All of the children satisfied the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual 4th Edition (DSM-IV) definitions for ADHD. One group consisted of five children whose parents for one reasons or another had not placed them on methylphenidate (No Med). The other 12 children were already on prescribed doses of methylphenidate; six of whom were assigned randomly to a drug reduction group (Med Reduction); and six of whom were retained on their prescribed doses (Med).

Assessment tools consisted of an ADHD rating scale for the DSM-IV symptoms; 13 items were rated on a scale of 0-3 for severity. Identical scales were constructed for the Oppositional Defiant Disorder(ODD) symptoms and the Conduct Disorder (CD) behaviors listed in DSM-IV. Both parents and teachers completed the above scales at each evaluation. In addition, parents completed a Central Health Inventory for their children.

After all screening assessments were completed, all subjects had the glyconutritional product added to their diets (1 capsule per 10 pounds of body weight for the first day and 1 capsule per 20 pounds of body weight for the remainder of the study). At week two, parents and teachers completed another rating series and the Med Reduction group had their medication reduced by half as per protocol. At week three, phytonutritionals (5 per day) were added to the diet of every subject. There were no further changes in the dietary supplements procedure. The additional rating series were completed at weeks five and six.

RESULTS

Parents rating for Hyperactivity (Graph 1 ): Over the four observation times, there was a statistically significant decease in the severity of hyperactivity symptoms in all group (p<0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference among groups.

Parent ratings for Hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention combined (ADHD) (Graph 2): Over the four observation times, there was a statistically significant decrease in the severity of all symptoms in all groups (p<0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference among groups.

Parent ratings for Hyperactivity and Impulsivity combined (Graph
3): Over the four observation times, there was a statistically significant decrease in the severity of hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms in all groups (p<0.005). However, there was no statistically significant differences among groups.

Parent ratings for Inattention (Graph 4): Over the four observation times, there was a statistically significant decrease in the severity of inattention symptoms in all groups (p<0.015). However, there was no statistically significant differences among groups.

Parent ratings for Hyperactivity, Impulsivity, and Inattention combined (ADHD) (Graph 5): Over the four observation times, there was a statistically significant decrease in the severity of all symptoms in all groups (p<0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference among groups.

Parents ratings for ODD (Graph 6): There were no group differences and every group showed a highly scientific reduction in ODD symptoms over the four observation times (p<0.0001).
Parent rating for CD (Graph 7): There were no group differences and every group showed a highly significant reduction in CD symptoms over the four observation times (p<0.01).

Parent ratings for health inventory (Graph 8): As a point of interest, initially the No Med group had as many of the so-called "side effects" (Barkley, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, A Handbook For Diagnosis and Treatment, 1990). As those already on stimulant medication (Med & Med Reduction), therefore, the decrease in side effects over time was interpreted as a health benefit. The following contrasts were statistically significant: Over the four observation times, there was an increase in health benefits (decrease in side effects). Between Time 1 and the other three observation times, there was a significantly significant increase in health benefits (p<0.006). However, there was no statistically significant difference among the last three observation times (p<0.23).

Teacher rating for behavior ratings (Graph 9): There were few statistically significant reduction in ODD (p<0.05), but the teacher trends are, in general, similar to those of parents; namely, a reduction in severity of all symptoms over time.

DISCUSSION
There results suggest that the severity of the behavioral symptoms defining ADHD and symptoms frequently association with ADHD might be reduced by the glyconutritionals and phytonutritionals used in this study. Possibly, the glyconutritionals acted synergistically with Methylphenadate increasing beneficial effects. In summary, the positive effects of using nutritional intervention is that the children receive supplements beneficial to their health with little or no risk or detrimental effects known to occur when children are placed on stimulant medication. Dietary supplementation with glyconutritionals and phytonutritionals significantly reduced the severity of symptoms of ADHD, particularly inattentiveness, in all groups tested.

*The glyconutritionals, Ambrotose (tm) capsules, were supplied by Mannatech(tm) Inc., Coppell, Texas.
**The phytonutritionals, Phyto-Bears(r) supplements, were supplied by Mannatech (tm) Inc., Coppell, Texas.
Presented at the 1997 Combined Forces Pharmacy Seminar,
sponsored by the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS), Dallas/Ft. Worth, April 20-25.