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There has been a rise in ADHD and gut health diagnoses in recent years. Many new studies are showing a link between the gut microbiome and ADHD symptoms and severity. Is ADHD Linked to Gut Health

Many things contribute to a disrupted gut microbiome. In recent years, the gut has received a lot of attention, and rightfully so. Each study shows a link between the gut and another condition. ADHD diagnosis has also become more common in recent years. Let’s look at what the studies have to say about this.

What is the gut microbiome?

The gut microbiome is a complex structure within the colon that helps our body break down food. The entire digestive system works together to break down most of what we eat, but the gut microbiome works on the harder-to-digest fibers.

Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other microorganisms comprise the gut microbiome. These organisms work to ferment the foods and degrade them into easy-to-use molecules that can be sent throughout the body, called postbiotics.

In cases of ADHD, we see that not only are the bacteria different but also the fungi in what is referred to as the mycobiome.

What is ADHD?

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is becoming a more common diagnosis. If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen a handful of videos that have you wondering if you, too, suffer from the condition.

Symptoms that are common with ADHD include:

Easily distracted
Forgetting everyday tasks like brushing your teeth
Difficulty listening to people talking or giving directions
Fidgety
Hyperactive
Impulsive
Difficulty managing time
Easily lose things

Symptoms do differ between genders and age groups. ADHD symptoms often seen in children are different from those in adults. These differences often make getting a true diagnosis difficult.

In addition, the symptoms often overlap with other conditions, making it difficult to nail down which condition you actually have.

The main symptoms of ADHD are being easily distracted, having a hard time focusing and completing tasks, and being fidgety.

Is ADHD linked to gut health?

With the obvious rise in both gut woes and ADHD, it’s not surprising that researchers checked into the link between the two. What was surprising was how many ways the two are linked.

The gut microbiome is known to most people for having bacteria in it, so let’s start there. Antibiotics are known to disrupt the gut microbiome. The whole point of them is to kill bacteria. Unfortunately, they are not aware that some bacteria help our bodies, so they cannot spare them and end up kilingl them off. The first 2-3 years are the most crucial in gut microbiome building. Studies showed a link between antibiotic use and ADHD.

Kids who needed antibiotics more than 3 times in the first 1-2 ½ years of life were more likely to develop ADHD, speech disorders, or an intellectual disability.
Those who experienced 3 or more ear infections requiring antibiotic use were more likely to develop autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability.
Children in families with parents who smoked cigarettes were even more likely to have these complications.
The link with these results seemed to be a higher abundance of Citrobacter and lower quantities of Coprococcus.

Other studies have detailed even more differences between bacterial species in ADHD patients and those without ADHD.

In addition to bacteria, studies have shown that specific fungi may be associated with ADHD. One study found that ADHD patients experienced higher quantities of Candida albicans and Ascomycota with lowered levels of Basidiomycota.

While Ascomycota and Basidiomycota are less commonly known and researched, there is a lot of information on Candida albicans and how it affects the body.

Candida albicans is often known for being a yeast infection. Most people experience issues with Candida albicans in the mouth or genitals. However, it’s a common gut microbiome issue as well.

Candida albicans changes how the body uses tryptophan. Instead of changing it to serotonin, it gets changed to kynurenine, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause neuroinflammation — this phenomenon is most commonly seen in those with ADHD, schizophrenia, and depression.

Leaky gut is increasingly common among disorders, especially when they relate to the gut microbiome. Leaky gut happens when the intestinal wall is no longer as tight as it should be, allowing bacteria and other microorganisms to freely pass in and out of the gut lining. A study has shown that there is a correlation between leaky gut and worsened ADHD symptoms.

These are the main ways that the gut microbiome contributes to and affects ADHD. Let’s talk about how we can improve ADHD symptom management.

How to improve ADHD symptoms through gut modulation

Eating a clean and healthy diet is proven to help manage symptoms of any health disorder, disease, or condition. Most of the time, that is what is suggested for ADHD, especially in children. While doctors will often suggest a medication to make kids focus better in school, diet, especially, should be considered.

With ADHD, you’ll want to do the following regarding diet:

Limit highly processed foods.

Reduce the consumption of food dyes. While food dyes are not linked to ADHD onset, they are linked to worsened ADHD symptoms. Many studies have seen similar results. There are a lot of new companies creating foods with natural dyes, so you don’t have to worry about the gut microbiome being disrupted or about worsening ADHD symptoms.
Watch out for common breakfast foods. Many breakfast foods are made to be convenient and quick. However, these foods are often riddled with unhealthy preservatives and high quantities of sodium and sugar.
Keep sugar quantities low. Yeasts and pathogenic bacterial strains feed on sugar. The more sugar you eat, the more out of control they can become. You don’t need to cut out all sugars, but definitely try to reduce them where you can.
Eat foods high in protein and fiber. Foods high in protein help to provide your body with filling energy. Fiber helps to keep you full for longer as it takes longer to digest. Foods high in fiber also often have polyphenols, which can help to repair the gut microbiome and keep you healthy. If you’re filling up on these sources, you’re less likely to binge on foods that make ADHD symptoms worse.

Atrantil can help too. Polyphenols can help with ADHD symptoms and severity, and Atrantil uses some of the best sources of polyphenols available. If you experience gastrointestinal issues along with ADHD, Atrantil can help repair the gut lining and bring a harmonious balance to the gut microbiome.

If you deal with ADHD, let us know if these suggestions helped you! If you know someone who can benefit from this article, give it a share.

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