Condition

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, tied to brain regions that manage planning and focus and that rely on dopamine and norepinephrine. Among supplements, fish oil and L-carnitine have the strongest support, and small trials found ADHD symptoms improved with each, backed by moderate evidence. Most of these studies were small, and essential fatty acid results were inconsistent, so stimulant medication remains the most effective option.

Sources: PMID 11817499; PMID 25790022; PMID 18315451

Updated 30 September 2026
How we grade
3 studies cited
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) protocol

Supplements studied: 11
Graded outcomes: 7
Trials: 22
People studied: 1,795

Evidence by supplement

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

11 supplements

Fish Oil

Fish Oil: outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	ADHD Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	7 studies	653 people
Studies that measured adhd symptoms A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of supplementation with highly unsaturated fatty acids on ADHD-related symptoms in children with specific learning difficultiesProg Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry · PMID 11817499 Reduced Symptoms of Inattention after Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Boys with and without Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity DisorderNeuropsychopharmacology · PMID 25790022 A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderJ Pediatr · PMID 11487742 and 4 more on the Fish Oil page
	Attention	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	198 people
Studies that measured attention High-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) improves attention and vigilance in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and low endogenous EPA levelsTransl Psychiatry · PMID 31745072 Effect of supplementation with long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on behavior and cognition in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a randomized placebo-controlled intervention trialProstaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids · PMID 24958525
	Working Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)			95 people

L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine: outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	ADHD Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	4 studies	234 people
Studies that measured adhd symptoms Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a multi-site, placebo-controlled pilot trialJ Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol · PMID 18315451 Acetyl-L-carnitine as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a placebo-controlled trialChild Psychiatry Hum Dev · PMID 21336630 Efficacy of carnitine in the treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorderProstaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids · PMID 12213433 and 1 more on the L-Carnitine page
	Attention	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	26 people
Studies that measured attention Exploratory open label, randomized study of acetyl- and propionylcarnitine in chronic fatigue syndromePsychosom Med · PMID 15039515
	Aggression	Improves (the measure goes up)			26 people

Essential fatty acid (EFA)

ADHD Symptoms: improves

Essential fatty acid (EFA): outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	ADHD Symptoms A systematic review of clinical trials found that children with ADHD tend to have lower EFA levels, and some supplementation trials showed modest improvements in ADHD-related symptoms, though results were inconsistent across studies and effect sizes were generally small.	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	3 studies	400 people
Studies that measured adhd symptoms Perinatal programming of murine immune responses by polyunsaturated fatty acids.Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease · 2011 · PMID 25140925 Essential fatty acids and attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology · 2009 · PMID 19549202 Essential fatty acids, DHA and human brain.Indian Journal of Pediatrics · 2005 · PMID 15812120

Saffron

ADHD Symptoms: improves
Attention: improves

Saffron: outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	ADHD Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		54 people
	Attention	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	54 people
Studies that measured attention Crocus sativus L. Versus Methylphenidate in Treatment of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind Pilot StudyJ Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol · PMID 30741567

Phosphatidylserine

ADHD Symptoms: improves
Attention: improves
Hyperactivity: improves

Phosphatidylserine: outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	ADHD Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		216 people
	Attention	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	216 people
Studies that measured attention Phosphatidylserine for the Treatment of Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisJ Altern Complement Med · PMID 33539192
	Hyperactivity	Improves (the measure goes up)			216 people
	Impulsivity	Improves (the measure goes up)			216 people

Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng)

ADHD Symptoms: improves
Serum DHEA: improves
Cortisol: improves

Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng): outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	ADHD Symptoms Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect		70 people
	Serum DHEA	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	70 people
Studies that measured serum dhea Effects of Korean red ginseng extract on behavior in children with symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trialJ Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol · PMID 25369174
	Cortisol	Improves (the measure goes down)			70 people

Phenylethylamine

Attention and Focus: improves

Phenylethylamine: outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Attention and Focus Altered PEA signaling has been associated with ADHD in mechanistic studies, and endogenous PEA modulates dopamine and norepinephrine pathways relevant to attention. No clinical trials of oral PEA supplementation for attention exist, and the rapid MAO-B degradation of oral PEA makes supplementation ineffective without co-administered MAO inhibitors (which carry safety risks).	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect

Theanine

Sleep Quality: improves

Theanine: outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Sleep Quality	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	97 people
Studies that measured sleep quality The effects of L-theanine consumption on sleep outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Med Rev · PMID 40056718 The effects of L-theanine (Suntheanine®) on objective sleep quality in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialAltern Med Rev · PMID 22214254

Zinc

ADHD Symptoms: improves

Zinc: outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	ADHD Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	52 people
Studies that measured adhd symptoms Zinc for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: placebo-controlled double-blind pilot trial alone and combined with amphetamineJ Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol · PMID 21309695

Magnesium

ADHD Symptoms: improves

Magnesium: outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	ADHD Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	15 people
Studies that measured adhd symptoms L-Threonic Acid Magnesium Salt Supplementation in ADHD: An Open-Label Pilot Study.J Diet Suppl · PMID 32162987

Ginkgo Biloba

ADHD Symptoms: improves

Ginkgo Biloba: outcomes studied for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	ADHD Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	50 people
Studies that measured adhd symptoms Ginkgo biloba for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a double blind, randomized controlled trialProg Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry · PMID 19815048

Key findings

ADHD SymptomsFish OilImproves (the measure goes down)
Attention and FocusPhenylethylamineImproves (the measure goes up)

The Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) protocol

2 primary supplements · 5 supporting supplements

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)1–2 g EPA+DHA daily (higher EPA ratio)
Zinc15–30 mg daily

See the full protocol

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Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.

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Studies cited

3 studies from PubMed

Efficacy of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for medicated adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A randomized controlled trial.Psychiatry Res · PMID 39798484
Effects of Qigong vs. routine physical exercise in school-aged children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomized controlled trial.World J Pediatr · PMID 40064759
Pilot feasibility study of binaural auditory beats for reducing symptoms of inattention in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderJ Pediatr Nurs · PMID 20117669

Evidence by supplement

Key findings

The Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Studies cited

Related conditions

Supplement stack for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)