Since 1937, stimulant and non-stimulant medications have been used to treat ADHD and related symptoms. Research shows that the use of drugs, such as methylphenidate, amphetamine, and atomoxetine, are effective in the short-term treatment of children diagnosed with ADHD when compared to a placebo group. However, researchers, physicians, and parents alike have voiced concerns about the long-term consequences and side effects associated with ADHD meds. These include possible impact on growth and development, impacts on heart health, and arguments about using drugs as a behavior modification treatment for children. 

This begs the question about what other ethical solutions and treatments are available for children who are diagnosed with ADHD or who have related symptoms. Recent research shows that broad-spectrum micronutrients are a safe and effective alternative to drugs for a wide range of mood and mental health disorders, especially ADHD. 

In 2021, Johnstone et al. [1] completed a double-blind randomized control trial that looked at the effectiveness of using Hardy Nutritionals micronutrients as treatment for children with ADHD and irritability. In this study, there were 135 participants aged six to twelve with a diagnosis of ADHD as well as impeding irritability symptoms. Prior to the study, all of the subjects had been psychotropic medication-free for at least two weeks. One group received Hardy Nutritionals Daily Essential Nutrients at doses in between the Recommended Dietary Allowance and Upper Tolerable Intake level while the other group received placebo capsules. The researchers used two different tools to measure the effectiveness of each treatment: Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory–5 (CASI–5). 

The results showed that after just eight weeks 54% of the micronutrient group responded, as opposed to just 18% in the placebo group.

This study replicated a previous study from 2019 done by Rucklidge et al[2]. In this study, the participants were seven to twelve years old and diagnosed with ADHD. Rucklidge found 47% improvement in the Hardy Nutritionals micronutrient group on the CGI as opposed to 28% from the placebo group. This study also showed significant improvements within the micronutrient group in regards to inattention, emotional regulation, and aggression. 

The results from both of these randomized control studies follow 30 [additional studies]  that suggest that Hardy's clinical-strength micronutrients, Daily Essential Nutrients, may be a helpful treatment for children with ADHD, specifically to the 40% to 50% of children with ADHD who also have problems with emotional regulation [3]. 

Many want to know the difference between the effectiveness of psychotropic medication and micronutrients as ADHD  treatments. There are no studies that evaluate the effectiveness of one treatment versus another. The current published studies only evaluate the effectiveness of a particular treatment against a control or placebo group. 

However, Caye et al [4] completed an evidence-based guide comparing the effectiveness rates between studies analyzing different treatments. Caye found that micronutrient therapy, using supplements such as Daily Essential Nutrients, seems as effective as behavioral therapy or ABA therapy. They also found that while therapy using methylphenidate, a stimulant drug, was more effective than other treatments, there were significantly more side effects. 

There is still a need for more studies on the use of micronutrients as treatment for ADHD and other psychiatric conditions, as there is a hope that these treatment options have a good safety profile and could avoid adverse side effects. An important next step would be the completion of a head-to-head study comparing the effectiveness of two or more treatment options for ADHD. There is hope that effective treatments with fewer to no side effects will become more accepted, prescribed, and utilized worldwide. 

There are currently over 30 independent medical journal publications backing the safety and efficacy of Daily Essential Nutrients for mood and mental health. Drs. Kaplan and Rucklidge have personally studied the safety and effectiveness of Daily Essential Nutrients in studies at their University labs.  It is a widely recommended clinical-strength multinutrient supplement formulated by Hardy Nutritionals, the leader in mental health nutrition. Daily Essential Nutrients is currently the world’s most research-backed multinutrient supplement for mood and mental health. 

To see a list of independent studies on Daily Essential Nutrients, visit HardyNutritionals.com/studies.

References

[1] Johnstone et al., Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2021

[2] Rucklidge et al., Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2018

[3] Faraone et al., Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2019

[4] Caye et al., Molecular Psychiatry, 2019

About Hardy Nutritionals®

Hardy Nutritionals® multivitamin-mineral products are powered by our proprietary NutraTek™ mineral delivery technology, which combines each mineral with specialized organic molecules—just like nature—to optimize absorption and distribution to body cells. Our flagship supplement, Daily Essential Nutrients, is widely considered to be the most research-backed micronutrient treatment.