Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment (Mar 2024)

The Impact of Integrating a Low-Lectin Diet with Traditional ADHD Treatments on Gut Microbiota Composition and Symptom Improvement in Children - A Cohort Study

  • Long L,
  • Peng H,
  • Chen X,
  • Wang F,
  • Long W,
  • Cheng M,
  • Ma J

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 20
pp. 535 – 549

Abstract

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Liying Long,1,2,* Haiyan Peng,1,2,* Xi Chen,1,2 Fei Wang,1,2 Wenjie Long,1,2 Ming Cheng,1,2 Jing Ma1,2 1Department of Psychiatry, The School of Clinical Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Psychiatry, Brain Hospital of Hunan Province (The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province), Changsha, Hunan, 410007, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jing Ma, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Hospital of Hunan Province (The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province), No. 427, Section 3, Furong Middle Road, Yuhua District, Changsha, Hunan, 410007, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-731-85232224, Email [email protected] and Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of implementing a low-lectin diet on gut microbiota composition and symptom amelioration in pediatric patients diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).Methods: A total of 58 children (ages 7– 15 years), meeting the criteria for ADHD were recruited. In addition to standard medication treatment, participants in the experimental group with a low-lectin diet, while those in the control group received standard medication treatment alone. Clinical outcomes were assessed through evaluations conducted by physicians and teachers, implementation of the Conners Parent Rating Scales, and analysis of gut microbiota composition.Results: The results revealed significant improvements in symptom reduction and attention allocation rate within the experimental group, surpassing those observed in the control group. Specifically, the experimental group exhibited lower physician ratings, teacher ratings, and attention allocation rate compared to the control group. Moreover, analysis of gut microbiota composition identified notable distinctions between the two groups.Conclusion: These findings provide compelling evidence and valuable guidance supporting the integration of a low-lectin diet as an adjunctive intervention for managing ADHD.Keywords: ADHD, gut microbiota, low-lectin diet, integrative intervention, children

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