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A High-performance Liquid Chromatography Measurement of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid: Relating Biochemistry to Cognition and Sleep in Rats
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A High-performance Liquid Chromatography Measurement of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid: Relating Biochemistry to Cognition and Sleep in Rats

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Kynurenine metabolites unchanged after multinutrient supplementation in children with ADHD: a secondary data analysis

Alisha M Bruton1, Hayleigh K Ast2, Lydia Norby-Adams2,3

  • 1Center for Mental Health Innovation, Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, USA. BrutonA@ohsu.edu.

Journal of Neural Transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)
|January 3, 2026
PubMed

Insights

A study on children with ADHD found that a multinutrient supplement did not alter kynurenine pathway metabolites. This suggests no significant biochemical changes in tryptophan metabolism related to ADHD and emotional dysregulation.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Psychiatry

Background:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects up to 10% of children, often accompanied by emotional dysregulation.
  • The kynurenine pathway, involving tryptophan metabolism, is implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Investigating this pathway may reveal novel therapeutic targets for ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the kynurenine pathway in ADHD pathophysiology.
  • To determine if a multinutrient supplement impacts urinary tryptophan, serotonin, and kynurenine levels in children with ADHD and emotional dysregulation.

Main Methods:

  • An 8-week randomized controlled trial (MADDY study) involving 84 children aged 6-12 years with ADHD and emotional dysregulation.
  • Participants received either a multinutrient supplement or a placebo.
  • Urinary samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for neurotransmitter levels at baseline and week 8.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in baseline neurotransmitter concentrations were observed between the treatment groups.
  • Multinutrient supplementation did not lead to significant changes in urinary levels of tryptophan, serotonin, or kynurenine metabolites over the 8-week study period.
  • Imputation of missing values and adjustment for multiple comparisons did not alter the main findings.

Conclusions:

  • Eight weeks of multinutrient supplementation did not alter urinary tryptophan, serotonin, or kynurenine concentrations in children with ADHD and emotional dysregulation.
  • The kynurenine pathway may not be a primary target for this specific multinutrient intervention in this pediatric population.
  • Further research is needed to explore other potential biochemical mechanisms and interventions for ADHD-related emotional dysregulation.

Keywords:
ADHDEmotion regulationInflammationIntegrative medicineKynurenineSerotonin

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