Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children is characterised by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that can disrupt daily functioning or development. It has been more widely diagnosed over the past decade, leading to a threefold increase in prescriptions for methylphenidate and a national shortage of ADHD medications lasting more than a year.
Good nutrition is foundational when it comes to our mental health, but it is also an adjunctive therapy that can be used alongside medications for ADHD and mental health conditions. At Urban Wellness, we support children (with or without medication) to optimise their brain chemistry, with the aim to improve their ability to focus and regulate their emotions.
What is the gut-brain axis?
The gut microbiome has been connected to a wide range of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, IBS, autoimmunity, allergies and eczema, but research also indicates that our gut bacteria can influence how we think and feel. This is because our gut bacteria produce or are involved in producing many of our brain chemicals that send messages between the gut and the brain. This gut-brain connection is a complex bi-directional network also known as the gut-brain axis.
We are host to our gut bacteria but, unlike a parasite, this relationship is very beneficial for us. If nurtured correctly, they can perform many health promoting functions including:
Produce essential vitamins, such as B vitamins and vitamin K
Improving digestion and absorption of nutrients from our food
Forming a barrier against infection from pathogenic bacteria/viruses/toxins
Interacting with our immune system, of which around 80% is in the gut
Provide the building blocks for neurotransmitters (brain chemicals)
Regulating appetite and suppressing cravings
If some of these functions are not working properly, it is easy to see how health may be compromised but also how symptoms of conditions like ADHD may be affected too.
The crosstalk between the gut and the brain
So how do all these functions in the gut relate to how our brain functions?
We have nerves in our gut, known as the enteric nervous system (ENS) – which is sometimes referred to as the body's second brain. The ENS may not be capable of thought or long division, but it communicates back and forth with our brain via the vagus nerve (a long wandering nerve connecting the gut to the brain).
When you’re cooking in the kitchen or smelling something tasty, the brain sends signals to the gut to prepare for the arrival of food (i.e. produce digestive juices). Or that familiar feeling of 'butterflies' in your stomach when you’re nervous or anxious. The gut also sends messages back to the brain about hunger, satiety and even toxicity in the gut.
At Urban Wellness, we work with children and adults to support the gut-brain axis in order to improve ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattentiveness, impulsiveness and agitation.
Neurotransmitters and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
One ways in which the gut communicates with the brain is through chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters. Your gut bacteria play a significant role in producing these chemicals (e.g., serotonin, dopamine and GABA), directly influencing the balance of your brain.
Serotonin, often referred to as the 'feel-good' neurotransmitter, plays a vital role in mood regulation, emotions and overall wellbeing. Remarkably, about 95% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut!
Serotonin also helps regulate dopamine, the brain’s 'reward' chemical, which is key to feelings of satisfaction and pleasure. Dopamine is essential for motivation, attention, and memory, and its dysregulation is thought to contribute to many symptoms of ADHD.
Gut bacteria and ADHD symptoms
Our gut bacteria also play a crucial role in regulating our metabolism. They might be small but we have trillions of them living in our gut, which means their genes likely outnumber our own genes. Why does this matter? Their genes influence our metabolism, which has a direct impact on our health, mood, cognition and behaviour.
Different types of bacteria in the gut will produce different chemical products from the same diet. For example, we know that some strains of bacteria (such as Clostridium) make a chemical toxin called HPHPA. It can affect the brain's ability to metabolise dopamine and increases inflammation, making you more agitated and aggressive. When clostridia overgrowth is present, children may not respond well to stimulant medication such as methylphenidate.
With a comprehensive stool analysis, we can test for raised HPHPA (found to be more prevalent in mood disorders, ADHD and ASD), as well as other key markers relating to gut health.
For more information or to find out who we can help your child thrive with their ADHD then book a call with Sophie today.
