The Facts:
* ADHD is the most common psychiatric disorder in children.
* This small study looked at the use of a French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol, in children with ADHD symptoms and tested their response at regular intervals to see if the supplement affected their attention, concentration and hyperactivity.
* The study showed after a month of use, the children experienced significant benefits unlike the placebo (sugar pill) group which showed no benefit. Also, one month after they stopped using the supplement the previous symptoms returned.
Shaun’s comment: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects around 1 in 25 people and leads to symptoms which include hyperactivity, forgetfulness and being easily distracted. There is a lot of speculation, but the cause of the condition remains a mystery. This study looked at whether a pine bark extract was of benefit; the researchers undertook the study after seeing reports that it was helping children with the condition. It was only a small study, but used a robust design of having half the children on the treatment and half taking placebo. The treatment appeared to be effective and safe and can therefore be cautiously recommended pending further research.
Study Reference:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00787-006-0538-3
No comments:
Post a Comment