title: The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioural disorder of childhood, affecting 3-5% of school-age children. The present study investigated whether the supplementation of soy-derived phosphatidylserine (PS), a naturally occurring phospholipid, improves ADHD symptoms in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty six children, aged 4-14 years, who had not previously received any drug treatment related to ADHD, received placebo (n = 17) or 200 mg day(-1) PS (n = 19) for 2 months in a randomised, double-blind manner. Main outcome measures included: (i) ADHD symptoms based on DSM-IV-TR; (ii) short-term auditory memory and working memory using the Digit Span Test of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; and (iii) mental performance to visual stimuli (GO/NO GO task).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PS supplementation resulted in significant improvements in: (i) ADHD (P < 0.01), AD (P < 0.01) and HD (P < 0.01); (ii) short-term auditory memory (P < 0.05); and (iii) inattention (differentiation and reverse differentiation, P < 0.05) and inattention and impulsivity (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in other measurements and in the placebo group. PS was well-tolerated and showed no adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PS significantly improved ADHD symptoms and short-term auditory memory in children. PS supplementation might be a safe and natural nutritional strategy for improving mental performance in young children suffering from ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, Kurashiki City College, Okayama, Japan; Daigokyou, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Terasawa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabeler
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Purpura
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jäger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010718:Phosphatidylserines
keywords: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; complementary and alternative; memory; phosphatidylserine; school children