Pilot study on a dietary intervention in children with symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

Abstract

Recent studies have evaluated diet quality as an alternative treatment for reducing the intensity of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study aims to evaluate the changes associated with an 8-week dietary intervention in the intensity of symptoms of inattention (I) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI), in the electrophysiological patterns characteristic of ADHD, and in attention and memory performance (WISC-V Digits subtest) in children. This was an exploratory study with a pre-experimental pretest and posttest design. Thirteen children aged 6 to 13 years with symptoms of I and HI according to the ADHD-5 scale participated. The results showed a significant reduction in I and HI symptoms, and the electroencephalogram recorded a significant increase in the relative power of the alpha band and a decrease in the theta band. There were no significant differences in attention and memory. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the benefits of dietary interventions in reducing symptoms of I and HI, as well as changes in relative power consistent with patterns reported in the non-ADHD population. These findings do not allow for the establishment of definitive clinical changes in brain activity; however, they highlight the relevance of multidisciplinary approaches that include diet in the management of the disorder.