title: Diet in the treatment of ADHD in children - a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric conditions in childhood. Dietary changes have been suggested as a way of reducing ADHD symptoms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide an overview of the evidence available on dietary interventions in children with ADHD, a systematic review was carried out of all dietary intervention studies in children with ADHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant databases were searched in October 2011, with an update search in March 2013. The studies included describe diet interventions in children with ADHD or equivalent diagnoses measuring possible changes in core ADHD symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 52 studies were identified, some investigating whether ADHD symptoms can improve by avoiding certain food elements (20 studies), and some whether certain food elements may reduce ADHD symptoms (32 studies).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elimination diets and fish oil supplementation seem to be the most promising dietary interventions for a reduction in ADHD symptoms in children. However, the studies on both treatments have shortcomings, and more thorough investigations will be necessary to decide whether they are recommendable as part of ADHD treatment.
authors.affiliation: Maren Johanne Heilskov Rytter, M.D., Ph.D. student, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Sciences, University of Copenhagen , Frederiksberg , Denmark.
authors.forename: Maren Johanne
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Heilskov Rytter
authors.forename: Louise Beltoft Borup
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Tine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Houmann
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bilenberg
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hvolby
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mølgaard
authors.forename: Kim F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Michaelsen
authors.forename: Lotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lauritzen
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005503:Food Additives / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives
keywords: ADHD; Dietary intervention; Review