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Micronutrients for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in youths: A placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial
In this placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial by Johnstone et al. (2022), the authors investigated the impact micronutrient supplements (vitamins and minerals) have on improving attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and irritability in children. For 8 weeks and across 3 sites, 135 children (average age 9.8 years) whom suffer from ADHD and a minimum of one accompanying symptoms of irritability as per parent report on the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory-5 (CASI-5), received either a micronutrient supplement or a placebo. The participants were evaluated through the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I, where a CGI-I of 1 or 2 is considered a response to treatment) and parent-rated CASI-5 composite score of ADHD, oppositional defiant, disruptive mood dysregulation, peer conflict, and impairment scores. The results revealed that 54% of the treatment group and 18% of the placebo group responded to the intervention as per CGI-I, while CASI-5 composite scores demonstrated substantial improvements in both groups, which were more noticeable in the treatment group. However, there were no statistically substantial between-group differences observed when comparing the treatment group with the placebo group. Of note, the treatment group participants grew 6 mm in height more than the placebo group. The authors conclude that micronutrients enhanced height gains and led to a clinically beneficial impact on ADHD with irritability in a pediatric population, however, that impact was not reflected in parent-report CASI-5 composite rating. Micronutrients present a well-tolerated intervention that is easy to conform to, and that the results further corroborate previously presented evidence from other trials investigating similar micronutrient formulations. [NPID: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, dysregulated mood, irritability, micronutrients]
Year: 2021
