Skip to main content

Table 1 Dietary intervention

From: Trialling a microbiome-targeted dietary intervention in children with ADHD—the rationale and a non-randomised feasibility study

Action point

Evidence for change in microbiome

1. Eat at least seven servings of different plants each day Vegetables, fruits, pulses, beans, herbs, spices, seeds and nuts are all counted as plants.

Vegetable fibre stimulates gut bacteria [67, 85, 86].

30+ different plant types/week increases microbial diversity [69].

2. Eat food within a 12-h window each day

Time-restricted eating enhances diversity of the gut microbiome [70,71,72].

3. Consume 125 ml Kefir drink each day

Daily kefir for 4 weeks increases Lactobacillus in gut [73].

4. Eat a microbiome-friendly, protein-rich breakfast from a prescribed menu

A sample breakfast menu was provided (see additional file 1). Inclusion of protein and prebiotic fibre in the form of nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit.

Protein increases satiety [87, 88].

Prebiotic fibre promotes growth of beneficial gut bacteria [67, 85, 86].

5. Reduce consumption of added sugar and artificial sweeteners

Low fibre/high sugar diets associated with lower diversity of gut bacteria [89, 90].

Artificial sweeteners decrease beneficial microbes [60, 91].