Special Diets May Help your kids’ ADHD – or Do More Harm?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects approximately 11% of children in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ADHD can alter a child’s ability to pay attention, behave and learn. The management of ADHD includes a focus on modifying behavior for young children and, for older kids, a combination of medication and behavioral approaches. In addition, there’s another component to successfully managing ADHD that often gets overlooked: diet.

Up to 19% of children with mental health issues are using complementary and alternative medicine, according to the results from a national survey published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies in 2018. Special diets, like the keto diet, fall under this umbrella. Furthermore, elimination diets or avoiding allergen-containing foods like eggs, wheat or milk, are being used by about 12% of children with ADHD, according to a 2005 study in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.

To date, however, a limited set of data for a small proportion of children with ADHD suggests eliminating certain food groups or altering certain dietary components may improve ADHD symptoms. A 2014 review study in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America summarized the effect of using a strict elimination diet, including avoidance of food allergens, such as wheat or dairy, as well as food dyes and preservatives. The researchers estimated a 10% to 30% detectable improvement with the removal of artificial colors, and perhaps preservatives, and a 25% chance of some general symptom improvement. It’s important to emphasize elimination diets have not been proven to be effective for all children with ADHD.

What we do know is that children need a full complement of nutrients for their developing bodies and brains. Eliminating or altering dietary components may inadvertently leave out important nutrients or may compromise a child’s eating, leaving more inadequacies in the diet (and potentially further complicating ADHD symptoms).

What you can do: Focus on adding nutritious foods to the diet, rather than taking them away. If you suspect your child may benefit from a special diet, or is sensitive to a certain food, consult with a pediatric dietitian or your pediatrician first so that you can get proper guidance and avoid unintended consequences like weight loss or a nutrient deficiency.

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