Current Limitations for the Assessment of the Role of the Gut Microbiome for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

High throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and metagenomes were applied to analyze complex microbial communities inhabiting the human gut and other body sites, and their role in numerous diseases. Studies in animals were important for elucidating the effects of the gut microbiota on the brain and behavior, and the responsible mechanisms. Recent studies in patients have identified bacterial taxa of the gut microbiome possibly impacting different neurological and psychiatric disorders including ADHD. Furthermore, antibiotic treatment of infections globally shape compositions of gut microbiota and might indirectly influence ADHD development. However, published studies revealed still partially incongruent results. Potential reasons for the still ill defined role of gut microbiota in ADHD comprise a) different study designs b) small number of patients c) different age groups analyzed d) inclusion of only treatment naive patients versus patients under medication e) differences of males versus females ratios and f) the heterogenous technology applied for microbiome sequence analysis. Furthermore, the complex interplay between the gut microbiome and individual host genetic factors requires much larger sample sizes and additional patient genome information. Alternative treatment options like probiotics or dietary interventions for ADHD therapy might offer new opportunities to prevent or treat this increasingly common disease. Clearly, further studies are needed to clarify molecular mechanisms imparting the gut brain axis as basis to modify commensal microbiota or their functions to target ADHD. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the most recent literature on the role of the gut microbiome in ADHD.