Effects of Caffeine on Main Symptoms in Children with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

Abstract

(1) Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is typically treated with stimulant medications, which may lead to several adverse effects. Recent animal studies have shown that caffeine can improve the symptoms of ADHD. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the effect of caffeine on ADHD symptoms in children. (2) Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing caffeine with placebo in children, comparing overall symptoms of ADHD, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. (3) Results: We included seven RCTs in the systematic review for qualitative assessment, with 104 patients aged 5 to 15 years. Four of these studies (n = 76) were included in the meta-analysis. After qualitative analysis, four studies indicated no improvement in any of the ADHD symptoms compared with placebo. One study showed improvement in ADHD symptoms based on 1 of 5 scales applied. One study indicated significant improvement in general symptoms, inattention, and hyperactivity. One study indicated improvement in sustained attention but a worsening of impulsivity. In contrast, when using a quantitative analysis of the general symptoms of ADHD, the data showed no significant difference when comparing placebo with caffeine (standardized mean difference -0.12; 95% CI -0.44 to 0.20; p = 0.45; I² = 0%). (4) Conclusion: overall, the totality of the evidence suggests no significant benefit of caffeine over placebo in the treatment of children with ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; caffeine; children; neurodevelopmental disorders; pediatric.

Figure 1

PRISMA flow diagram of study screening and selection.

Figure 2

Forest plot comparing caffeine and placebo in ADHD overall symptoms [52,54,57,59].