Ever since a few decades ago, researches have suspected that nutrition has a lot to do with ADD/ADHD. Now that this fact has been accepted, medical professionals, nutritionist as well as individuals diagnosed with ADD are still misinterpreting this connection.

The Studies

There have been literally thousands of studies that have investigated the connection between nutrition and ADD/ADHD. A majority of these studies have been conducted by reputable learning institutions and medical facilities. Many of these experts have found a definitive connection between nutrition and ADD/ADHD and this connection has been documented in numerous published studies. Information on only a few of these studies follows.

Study conducted by Jennifer Dani, Courtney Burrill, and Barbara Demmig-Adams, titled “The remarkable role of nutrition in learning and behavior" has found that:

“The result of this analysis is that nutrition has potent effects on brain function. It is concluded that protein, iron, iodine, and the consumption of breakfast all impact on a child’s learning capability and behaviour. Moreover, recent research has identified additional, potent roles of micronutrients, such as essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins, in the prevention of learning and behavioural disorders. Among the latter, this review focuses particularly on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder."

Chris D. Meletis and Jason Barker had authored a study called Mental Health: Not All in the Mind—Really a Matter of Cellular Biochemistry.

A study done by D.W. Schab. Schab and his colleagues have concluded that children’s behavior improved when AFC’s was no longer in their diet. This study entitled ‘Artificial Food Coloring Promotes Hyperactivity’ was published in The Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.

A child’s diet can lead to behavioral disorders. This is a finding from a study conducted by C M Carter, M Urbanowicz, R Hemsley, L Mantilla, S Strobel, P J Graham, and E Taylor titled ‘Effects of a few food diet in attention deficit disorder’. Conditions of 76% of children implementing elimination diet later improved.

More studies have further justified the huge role foods and additives play in forming attention deficit hyperactive disorder in children. M. Boris and F.S. Mandel, in their study found that “a beneficial effect of eliminating reactive foods and artificial colors in children with ADHD. Dietary factors may play a significant role in the etiology of the majority of children with ADHD."

The Results

The few researches covered here are just a friction of all researches that have been conducted in the quest to prove the impact of nutritional factors on ADD/ADHD. These nutritional factors could be food additives, fatty acids, vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Subjects have participated in elimination diets; nutritional supplementation, behavioral observations and self-reporting in the course of these studies and most studies were also more focus towards young children as subjects. There are also a number of studies done on adolescence and adults.

These studies are which are conducted by renowned institutions such as Harvard University, Cornell University, Cornell Medical Center, Oxford University, etc. are therefore backed by the excellent reputation.

All of the studies carried the same theme in findings. They have scientifically proved that once the nutritional deficiency or food additive causing the sensitivity, allergy, or toxic reaction were removed from the diet, participants experience improvement in their behavior. They have also developed increased in reading ability, motor coordination, and IQ, prior to having poor attention ability and concentration. These improvements are as a result of these individuals was able to focus and stay on task.

What is the conclusion then?

Findings of these studies point to the fact that the symptoms of ADD/ADHD can improved or even disappeared once dietary deficiencies were corrected. They also prove that non-medicinal interventions be used to treat ADD/ADHD even if the medical community required a whole lot more of prove in order to accept this and individuals who suffer from this disorder can be more alert and opt for life without medication.