Long-term effects of a synbiotic intervention in ADHD-patients : 18-month follow-up

Abstract: A link between the gut and the brain has been proposed to influence psychiatric disorders. Probiotics have been suggested to modify the gut microbiota and thereby improve autism symptoms in children. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has high comorbidity with other neuropsychiatric diagnoses, including autism. This is a follow-up of the first study examining a synbiotic intervention in patients with ADHD (Skott et al., 2019). In the original study, 114 adults participated. In this study, 38 adults were evaluated. The aim was to examine if suggested improvements remained 18 months post treatment. Specifically, if reductions were detected in comorbid autism symptoms, emotional dysregulation or functional impairment. The endpoints were measured using questionnaires: Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16) and Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS). No Synbiotic2000-specific effect was detected. Synbiotic2000 and placebo improved emotion regulation and life skill-functioning equally well. More research is needed to draw reliable conclusions.