Nutrition Overview
What nutrition can and cannot do. Setting realistic expectations based on evidence, not marketing.
The brain needs adequate nutrients to function. Deficiencies can impair cognition and mood.
Blood sugar stability affects concentration, mood, and behaviour.
If a child is deficient in iron, vitamin D, etc., correcting this can improve symptoms.
Good nutrition may support medication effectiveness and help manage side effects.
Better nutrition supports sleep, immune function, and overall health.
These are neurodevelopmental conditions, not nutritional deficiencies.
Medication, behavioural support, and accommodations have stronger evidence.
Supplements without deficiency rarely show meaningful effects.
Nutrition alone cannot fix lifestyle factors that affect behaviour.
Evidence hierarchy
Not all nutrition claims are equal. Here's how the evidence stacks up.
Practical priorities
Focus on these evidence-based basics before considering supplements or special diets.
Regular meals with protein
Stabilises blood sugar, prevents energy crashes that worsen symptoms.
Adequate hydration
Dehydration affects concentration. Often overlooked.
Breakfast (especially with medication)
Medication affects appetite. Front-loading nutrition matters.
Reduce ultra-processed foods gradually
Not about perfection, but improving overall diet quality.
Test and treat deficiencies
If deficient, supplementing helps. If not, it doesn't.
Common myths vs reality
Reality: Research doesn't support this. Behaviour after sugar is often expectation effects or excitement from the event.
Evidence: Multiple controlled studies show no sugar-behaviour link
Reality: A small subset of children may be sensitive. Most are not. UK has stricter rules than US.
Evidence: Southampton studies showed small effects in some children
Reality: NICE guidelines specifically advise against this. Effects are small and inconsistent.
Evidence: Meta-analyses show small effect sizes, not clinically meaningful for most
Reality: No consistent evidence supports this for autism. May help if actual coeliac disease or allergy.
Evidence: Cochrane review found insufficient evidence
Important to know:
- •Significant weight loss or failure to thrive
- •Very restricted eating (fewer than 10-15 foods)
- •Suspected nutritional deficiencies
- •Eating difficulties affecting family life significantly
- •You're considering a restrictive diet
- •Disordered eating patterns
A registered dietitian can assess nutritional status and provide personalised guidance.
Good nutrition supports the brain, but it doesn't treat neurodevelopmental conditions. Focus on practical basics - regular meals, hydration, breakfast - rather than expensive supplements or restrictive diets. Be especially sceptical of anything that claims to "cure" ADHD or autism.
- Nutrition supports brain function but doesn't treat neurodevelopmental conditions
- Focus on overall diet quality, not single nutrients or "superfood" claims
- Test before supplementing - unnecessary supplements don't help
- Practical changes (regular meals, hydration, breakfast) matter most
- Be sceptical of expensive supplements or "cure" claims