The DASH Diet May Help Kids With ADHD
STUDY: Khoshbakht Y et al, European Journal of Nutrition 2021;60:3647–3658
STUDY TYPE: Randomized controlled trial
EVIDENCE GRADE: Moderate (7/10)
FUNDING: Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences
Background
The DASH diet — rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and low-fat dairy, and low in sugar and red meat — was built for hypertension. But it is also rich in nutrients that help ADHD: omega-3s, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, and fewer artificial additives. It is similar to the Mediterranean diet, which improves depression. This is the first RCT to test it directly in children with ADHD.
The Study
Eighty children ages 6–12 with ADHD (nearly all boys) were randomized to either a DASH-style diet or a control diet resembling the typical Iranian child’s diet for 12 weeks. No medications or behavioral therapy were allowed. Symptoms were tracked monthly by parents, teachers, and children using the ADHD scale (ACS), hyperactivity/inattention scale (SNAP-IV), and behavioral difficulties scale (SDQ).
The DASH group showed significantly greater improvements in hyperactivity, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, and peer relationships on the SDQ, and in parent- and teacher-reported ACS scores. The combined inattention-hyperactivity score (SNAP-IV) trended in the right direction but didn’t reach significance for most subscales. Both groups improved — the control diet wasn’t exactly junk food — which likely narrowed the gap.
Practice Implications
- Earlier trials found that eliminating artificial ingredients improved ADHD — mainly food colorings, sodium benzoate, and BPA from plastics
- In this guide to lifestyle for ADHD, I have blended the elimination diet with the DASH approach
—Chris Aiken, MD
Director, Psych Partners
Editor in Chief, Carlat Psychiatry Report
What’s Your Take? Share in Comments
- Diets can be difficult to follow. Which changes have worked for your patients?
