Sugars and Fatty Acids Associated with Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Myth or Reality?

In simple terminology, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition that causes inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Out of many etiological reasons, dietary changes and adoption of western style diet is recognized as one, aggravating symptoms of ADHD, although the possible linkage of ADHD to alternation in nutrients is still dubious. The current article attempts to review the literature related to the role of fatty acids and sugar in ADHD. It can be inferred that fatty acid supplementation helps in ADHD, possibly through modulating the activities of neurotransmitters. Glucose is an important fuel for brain, but some researches claim that high intake of sugar by children with ADHD may accentuate the symptoms of ADHD, whereas others argue no such augmentation. Hence, there is a strong need of conducting more controlled researches in this arena to come to a consensus regarding omission or addition of these macronutrients in the diet of ADHD subjects