From 3-5% of children in the US suffer from ADHD and research now suggests that in a significant number of these, coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity could be the cause.

In 2004 research in Israel (Zelnick N MD, et al; Range of Neurologic Disorders in Patients With Celiac Disease; Pediatrics vol 113 no 6 June 2004) found that of 111 with coeliac disease about 20% of the patients had learning disabilities and ADHD. This was one of the first studies to show a definite relationship between coeliac disease and ADHD. About 20% of the patients had learning disabilities and ADHD.

In 2006, researchers in Italy found that 132 patients with ADHD symptoms showed significant improvement after six months on a gluten free diet (Niederhofer H, Pittschieler K.; A Preliminary Investigation of ADHD symptoms in Persons With Celiac Disease; Journal of Attention Disorders, 2006 Nov;10(2):200-4).

First published in 2009

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