effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioural disorder of childhood, affecting 3–5% of school‐age children. The present study investigated whether the supplementation of soy‐derived phosphatidylserine (PS), a naturally occurring phospholipid, improves ADHD symptoms in children. METHODS: Thirty six children, aged 4–14 years, who had not previously received any drug treatment related to ADHD, received placebo (n = 17) or 200 mg day–¹ PS (n = 19) for 2 months in a randomised, double‐blind manner. Main outcome measures included: (i) ADHD symptoms based on DSM‐IV‐TR; (ii) short‐term auditory memory and working memory using the Digit Span Test of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; and (iii) mental performance to visual stimuli (GO/NO GO task). RESULTS: PS supplementation resulted in significant improvements in: (i) ADHD (P < 0.01), AD (P < 0.01) and HD (P < 0.01); (ii) short‐term auditory memory (P < 0.05); and (iii) inattention (differentiation and reverse differentiation, P < 0.05) and inattention and impulsivity (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in other measurements and in the placebo group. PS was well‐tolerated and showed no adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: PS significantly improved ADHD symptoms and short‐term auditory memory in children. PS supplementation might be a safe and natural nutritional strategy for improving mental performance in young children suffering from ADHD.