Abstract

Purpose: To examine the hypothesis that intervention with the polyphenolic complex (PE) from pine bark improves the symptoms of ADHD and reduces oxidative stress in children and adolescent.
Methods: It was a randomized, double-blind, crossover and placebo-controlled 10-weeks period study, including two interventional periods (4weeks/period) and one washout period (2 weeks). Data were from 8 participants with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at ages 7~16 years (seven boys and one girl). During the first interventional period, participants were received a capsule of PE from pine bark, which contain 25mg Oligopin^® per capsule, or a capsule of placebo, which contains 25mg cellulose. Then, participants entered the washout period for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of washout, the participants entered the second interventional period and crossed over to receive an Oligopin^® or placebo capsule. Neuropsychological assessment, routine blood biochemical parameter and antioxidative status were carried out in this study.
Results: All blood biochemical parameters were normal in the interventional periods. However, the lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased when participants received the PE capsules. Moreover, the participants had a significant higher hit accuracy, inhibition, sustainability in CPT-II performanceduring the PE interventional period.
Conclusions: The administration of the polyphenolic extract from pine bark (25 mg/day) for one month might improve the inattention and impulsivity and reduce plasma lipid peroxidation levels in children and adolescent with ADHD.