Add-On <i>Bifidobacterium Bifidum</i> Supplement in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A 12-Week Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Liang-Jen Wang,
Ching-Shu Tsai,
Wen-Jiun Chou,
Ho-Chang Kuo,
Ying-Hsien Huang,
Sheng-Yu Lee,
Hong-Ying Dai,
Chia-Yu Yang,
Chia-Jung Li,
Yao-Tsung Yeh
Affiliations
Liang-Jen Wang
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Ching-Shu Tsai
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Wen-Jiun Chou
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Ho-Chang Kuo
Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Ying-Hsien Huang
Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Sheng-Yu Lee
Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 813, Taiwan
Hong-Ying Dai
Aging and Disease Prevention Research Center, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung 83102, Taiwan
Chia-Yu Yang
Department of Microbiology and Immunology/Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Chia-Jung Li
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
Yao-Tsung Yeh
Aging and Disease Prevention Research Center, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung 83102, Taiwan
We conducted a 12-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the potential impact of Bifidobacterium bifidum (Bf-688) supplementation on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with ADHD who were already receiving a stable dose of methylphenidate (MPH) treatment were enrolled and were randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving add-on Bf-688 (daily bacterial count of 5 × 109 CFUs) (n = 51) and the other receiving a placebo (n = 51). All participants underwent assessments using Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Conners’ Continuous Auditory Test of Attention (CATA). Additionally, fecal samples were collected at the beginning of the trial (week 0) and at the endpoint (week 12). Remarkably, the group receiving Bf-688 supplementation, but not the placebo group, exhibited significant improvements in omission errors in CPT as well as Hit reaction time in both CPT and CATA. Gut microbiome analysis revealed a significant increase in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B ratio) only in the Bf-688 group. Furthermore, we identified significant negative correlations between N-Glycan biosynthesis and Hit reaction time in both CPT and CATA. Our results demonstrate that the probiotic Bf-688 supplement can enhance neuropsychological performance in children with ADHD, possibly by altering the composition of the gut microbiota, ultimately leading to reduced N-Glycan biosynthesis.