A small study in New Zealand tested a broad-spectrum supplement in children with ADHD. The 14 children were 8 to 12 years old (mean age 10.18), and all had been off medication for at least four weeks. More than half also had another condition (57%). None dropped out over six months.
The trial used an on-off design. The children took a micronutrient formula (EMPowerplus, 36 ingredients), then stopped, then took it again, then stopped again. During the on periods, their ADHD symptoms went down, their mood improved, and their overall functioning improved. During the off periods, symptoms got worse again.
The gains were large while the children were taking the supplement (Cohen's d 1.2 to 2.2). By the end of the second on period, most children had at least a 30% drop in ADHD symptoms (71%). A clinician also rated most children as much improved or very much improved across all their symptoms (79%).
The study had real limits. It had no placebo group and no blinding, so hope and expectation could explain some of the gains. The sample was tiny (14 children), and teacher reports were mostly missing.
This was an early test in children and does not tell a reader what to do. Anyone thinking about a supplement should talk with a clinician about their own situation.
Source: Heather Gordon, Julia J. Rucklidge, Neville M. Blampied, et al.. Clinically Significant Symptom Reduction in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treated with Micronutrients: An Open-Label Reversal Design Study. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (2015). doi:10.1089/cap.2015.0105