Gut microbiome changes with micronutrient supplementation in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the MADDY studyOriginal paper
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease, four years before the first published case study.
Read MoreWhat was studied?
Researchers examined fecal microbiome changes in 44 children with ADHD and emotional dysregulation from the MADDY study. Children received either micronutrient supplements or placebo for 8 weeks, followed by an 8-week open extension where all took micronutrients.
How was it studied?
Stool samples collected at baseline, week 8, and week 16 were analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the V4 region. Investigators compared microbial composition between micronutrients versus placebo, and between blinded clinician-rated treatment responders versus non-responders.
What did they find?
Micronutrients significantly shifted microbial evenness (alpha diversity) and overall community composition (Bray-Curtis beta diversity) compared to placebo. The phylum Actinobacteriota decreased with micronutrients relative to placebo, while the butyrate-producing families Rikenellaceae and Oscillospiraceae increased more in responders than non-responders.
Why it matters
The findings suggest micronutrients act partly through gut microbiome changes, with butyrate-producing bacteria linked to behavioral improvement. This points to specific microbial targets, potentially through immune and short-chain fatty acid pathways, for future ADHD interventions.