A comprehensive analysis of 23 studies involving nearly 2 million people reveals that individuals with ADHD are significantly more likely to experience digestive problems such as constipation, IBS, and encopresis, prompting calls for increased awareness of these health issues in ADHD management.
A large new review has found that people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are more likely than others to experience a range of digestive problems, including constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and loss of bowel control. The analysis, published in the Journal of Attention Disorders and based on 23 studies covering about 1.9 million people, found ADHD was linked to nearly double the risk of constipation, a 58% higher likelihood of IBS and more than four times the odds of encopresis, the medical term for involuntary soiling.
Researchers at the University of Warwick said the findings suggest gastrointestinal symptoms may be an under-recognised part of the ADHD picture. Sarah Blake, one of the study’s lead authors and a medical student at Warwick Medical School, said: “Almost every gut symptom we looked at: constipation, IBS, even indigestion, appeared to be associated with ADHD. These symptoms can have a real impact on daily life, but they could easily be overlooked if the focus is on ADHD itself.”
The review does not prove that ADHD causes bowel problems, only that the two appear to occur together more often than chance would suggest. Saran Shantikumar, an associate clinical professor at Warwick Medical School, said: “We can’t yet say ADHD causes these gut problems, or exactly what is driving the link, but the pattern is striking enough to warrant attention.”
Experts have offered several possible explanations. These include side-effects from ADHD medication, irregular or impulsive eating patterns and changes in the gut microbiome, the community of bacteria living in the digestive tract. Earlier reviews have also found differences in gut bacteria in people with ADHD, including shifts in microbes linked to inflammation and short-chain fatty acid production, though researchers say the evidence is not yet strong enough to identify a single cause.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
