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Information event on January 24, 2017 on "Food intolerance in children with ADHD"

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD for short, can be directly linked to diet. This is because various substances in food can not only trigger allergies, they can also exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD. Whether and which foods affect the symptoms of children with ADHD can be determined and treated with the help of a special diagnostic diet, the "oligoantigenic diet". Researchers from the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg are investigating this in a study of children aged 7 to 18 who have been diagnosed with ADHD. They are investigating the individually perceptible influence of individual food components on the children's behavior. At the same time, they are testing whether this form of treatment can be implemented in the everyday lives of the affected families. The aim of the diet, which is specially tailored to each patient, is to identify individual intolerable foods and to significantly improve the symptoms of the neurobiological disorder in the long term by avoiding them in the daily diet. The four-week "oligoantigenic diet" used for diagnosis only allows foods that can very rarely trigger allergies.

An information event on the current status of the Freiburg study "Oligoantigenic diet in children with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder - feasibility and effectiveness" will take place on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, from 7.30 pm to 9 pmin the Zoology lecture hall (1st floor, Hauptstraße 1, Freiburg). Affected and interested parties are cordially invited to attend. The results of the study to date will be presented. Those interested in participating in the study can obtain comprehensive information about the ongoing study at the event. Participation is free of charge.

In numerous previous studies, around 60 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD were found to be intolerant to individual foods. "Since, in addition to drug treatment for ADHD, a change in diet can lead to a significant improvement in symptoms in many patients, this diet is a worthwhile alternative for parents of affected children," says Dr. Christina Clement, ecotrophologist at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. "Our first study participants are delighted, as many of the symptoms of ADHD have improved as a result of the consistent change in diet," says Dr. Clement. "In addition, the whole family is sensitized to a conscious diet and quickly realizes for themselves what is good for the affected children."

Further information can be found in the attached flyer or here

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Christian Fleischhaker
Senior Consultant
Dr. Christina Clement
Ecotrophologist Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics in Childhood and Adolescence
Uniklinik Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-69040
christina.clement@uniklinik-freiburg.de