{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T05:01:25Z","timestamp":1787029285010,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,28]],"date-time":"2025-04-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745798400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objective: This review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of different supplements, such as L-theanine, caffeine, Ginkgo biloba L., and Bacopa monnieri for improving ADHD symptoms, to determine the most effective supplement and provide insight for medical practice. Methods: International databases (PubMed\/MEDLINE and Scopus) were searched for English-language RCTs, open-label studies, and cross-sectional studies. Results: Studies on L-theanine, caffeine, Ginkgo biloba L., and Bacopa monnieri have shown various effects on ADHD symptoms. L-theanine improved sleep efficiency but not other sleep parameters. Caffeine showed no significant benefits, although its combination with L-theanine may enhance attention. Bacopa monnieri consistently improved inattention, hyperactivity, and memory, whereas Ginkgo biloba L. reduced ADHD symptoms, particularly inattention, but was less effective than methylphenidate. Conclusions: The evidence revealed the potential use of supplements as complementary ADHD treatments under clinical guidance. The limited effect of supplements cannot replace the well-documented efficacy of stimulants for ADHD treatment. Additional studies are needed to ascertain the most effective dosages and the safety of these supplements as adjunctive treatments for ADHD.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17091482","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,28]],"date-time":"2025-04-28T09:39:47Z","timestamp":1745833187000},"page":"1482","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Efficiency of Different Supplements in Alleviating Symptoms of ADHD with or Without the Use of Stimulants: A Systematic Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Shatha","family":"Al Shahab","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rawan","family":"Al Balushi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amna","family":"Qambar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ruqayah","family":"Abdulla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maryam","family":"Qader","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shooq","family":"Abdulla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8990-1320","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Haitham","family":"Jahrami","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain"},{"name":"Governmental Hospitals, Manama P.O. Box 12, Bahrain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"315","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0040-1701658","article-title":"ADHD: Current Concepts and Treatments in Children and Adolescents","volume":"51","author":"Drechsler","year":"2020","journal-title":"Neuropediatrics"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shaw, M., Hodgkins, P., Caci, H., Young, S., Kahle, J., Woods, A., and Arnold, L. (2012). A Systematic Review and Analysis of Long-Term Outcomes in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Effects of Treatment and Non-Treatment. BMC Med., 10.","DOI":"10.1186\/1741-7015-10-99"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wolraich, M., Hagan, J., Allan, C., Chan, E., Davison, D., Earls, M., Evans, S., Flinn, S., Froehlich, T., and Frost, J. (2019). 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