ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07922252SMART-ADHDUpdated Nov 6, 2026

Micronutrient Supplementation and Chronotherapy in Children With ADHD

An interventional study of Broad-spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplementation and Chronotherapy-Based Lifestyle Guidance in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), sponsored by UCSI University. Recruiting at 1 site in Malaysia. Open to participants aged 6 Years to 12 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-06.

Sponsored by UCSI University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Updated Nov 6, 2026Newly registeredGo to Updates ↓
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
120
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
6 Years to 12 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition in children that can affect attention, behavior, learning, and daily functioning. Nutritional status, gut health, and sleep and circadian patterns may influence ADHD-related symptoms.

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effects of a 12-week intervention combining broad-spectrum multivitamin-mineral supplementation (Usanimals™) with chronotherapy-based lifestyle guidance in Malaysian children aged 6-12 years with ADHD. The intervention includes Usanimals™ supplementation and guidance on sleep routines and meal timing. Participants will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group or a control group receiving usual care.

Changes in ADHD-related symptoms will be assessed using validated parent-reported measures, including the SNAP-IV and Conners questionnaires. Sleep patterns and gastrointestinal outcomes will also be evaluated. The study aims to determine whether this combined micronutrient and lifestyle approach may improve ADHD-related symptoms, sleep, and gastrointestinal outcomes compared with usual care.

Read the detailed description

ADHD is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental condition involving alterations in several biological processes related to attention and behavioral regulation. Nutritional factors, including micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids, may contribute to neurotransmitter synthesis and function, while the gut microbiota may influence neurobiological processes through the gut-brain axis. Sleep disturbances and altered sleep-wake patterns are also commonly reported among children with ADHD.

The SMART-ADHD study evaluates an integrative intervention combining broad-spectrum multivitamin-mineral supplementation (Usanimals™) with chronotherapy-related lifestyle guidance. Children aged 6-12 years who meet the study eligibility criteria will be randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. The intervention group will receive Usanimals™ multivitamin-mineral supplementation, consisting of two chewable tablets daily (one after breakfast and one after dinner), together with guidance related to sleep routines and meal timing for 12 weeks. The proposed paediatric supplementation dosage is subject to regulatory confirmation prior to implementation. The control group will continue usual care during the 12-week active trial period and will subsequently be offered Usanimals™ supplementation for three months as delayed supplementation.

ADHD-related symptoms will be evaluated using the SNAP-IV and Conners parent questionnaires. Sleep-related outcomes will be assessed using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and objective sleep-wake monitoring using the GENEActiv wrist-worn actigraphy device. Gastrointestinal outcomes will include bowel movement frequency and stool characteristics assessed using the Modified Bristol Stool Form Scale for Children (mBSFS-C). Assessments will be conducted at Week 0, Week 6, Week 12, and Week 24 according to the study protocol, with GENEActiv monitoring conducted at Weeks 0, 6, and 12.

The study will evaluate whether combining Usanimals™ multivitamin-mineral supplementation with chronotherapy-based lifestyle guidance is associated with improvements in ADHD-related symptoms and selected sleep and gastrointestinal outcomes compared with usual care. The Week 24 follow-up will provide additional information on the maintenance of outcomes and exploratory findings following delayed supplementation in the control group.

02

Conditions studied

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Keywords

  • ADHD, micronutrient supplementation, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, chronotherapy, pediatric nutrition
03

In context

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity

1,817 studies on the registry are indexed under Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; 296 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 120 is above the median of 71 across 1,437 interventional studies indexed under Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity.

Browse Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity studies →

Lead sponsor

UCSI University is the lead sponsor of 3 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
6 Years to 12 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Children who meet the diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or children with elevated parent-reported ADHD symptoms who meet at least one of the prespecified CPRS-48 or parent SNAP-IV screening thresholds at Week 0, as described in Screening and Eligibility. Children with parent-reported ASD Level 1 may also be included, provided they meet all ADHD screening and other eligibility criteria.
  2. Aged 6-12 years.
  3. Able to comply with the study procedures, medication schedule, and follow-up visits.
  4. Written has been obtained from the parent or legal guardian.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

  1. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level 2 or Level 3, or with an ASD diagnosis of unknown severity that cannot be confirmed as Level 1 based on existing information.
  2. A diagnosed intellectual disability or an intelligence quotient (IQ) below 70.
  3. Presence of cardiac disease or liver disease.
  4. Participation in another clinical trial within the specified .
  5. Presence of a diagnosed bleeding disorder or significant history of abnormal bleeding.
  6. Presence of any known or suspected immunocompromising condition.
  7. Any medical condition (e.g., severe allergies to fish/seafood or acute systemic diseases) or behavioral condition (e.g., acute psychiatric crises) that would compromise the participant's safety or the integrity of the study data.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Washout period

A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
120 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Nutritional Supplementation and Chronotherapy Group

    Participants will receive the study nutritional supplementation consisting of a broad-spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement together with chronotherapy-based guidance on sleep and meal timing.

    Dietary Supplement: Broad-spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplementation · Behavioral: Chronotherapy-Based Lifestyle Guidance

  • No intervention
    Usual Care Control Group

    Participants will continue their usual care during the 12-week study period without receiving the study nutritional supplements or chronotherapy intervention.

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementBroad-spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplementation

    Participants will receive USANA Usanimals Chewable Tablets for 12 weeks at a dose of 2 tablets daily: 1 tablet after breakfast and 1 tablet after dinner.

  • BehavioralChronotherapy-Based Lifestyle Guidance

    Participants in the intervention group will receive chronotherapy-based lifestyle guidance for 12 weeks, focusing on maintaining consistent sleep and wake times, regular meal timing, and alignment of daily routines with circadian rhythms. Parents or caregivers will be provided with guidance to support implementation and adherence throughout the intervention period.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in ADHD Symptoms Assessed by the Conners Parent Rating Scale

    ADHD symptoms will be assessed using the Conners Parent Rating Scale. The primary outcome will evaluate the change in parent-reported ADHD symptom severity from baseline to Week 12, with particular emphasis on the Inattention domain. Higher scores indicate greater ADHD symptom severity; therefore, a reduction in score from baseline indicates improvement in symptoms.

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 6, Week 12, and Week 24 (3-month follow-up).

  2. Change in ADHD Symptoms Assessed by the SNAP-IV Parent Rating Scale

    ADHD symptoms will be assessed using the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale-IV (SNAP-IV). Changes in parent-reported Inattention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity symptom scores from baseline to Week 12 will be evaluated. Higher scores indicate greater ADHD symptom severity; therefore, a reduction in score indicates improvement.

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 6, Week 12, and Week 24 (3-month follow-up).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Sleep Habits and Sleep-Related Difficulties Assessed Using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ)

    Changes in children's sleep habits and sleep-related difficulties will be assessed using the parent-reported Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). The questionnaire evaluates sleep-related domains including bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep duration, sleep anxiety, night wakings, parasomnias, sleep-disordered breathing, and daytime sleepiness. Changes in total CSHQ scores and relevant subscale scores from baseline will be assessed during the intervention period and at the 3-month follow-up. Higher scores indicate greater sleep-related difficulties.

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 6, Week 12, and Week 24 (3-month follow-up).

  2. Change in Objective Sleep-Wake Parameters Measured Using GENEActiv Wrist-Worn Actigraphy

    Objective sleep-wake patterns will be assessed using the GENEActiv wrist-worn actigraphy device in both intervention and control groups. Participants will wear the device for 7 consecutive days at each assessment time point. Actigraphy-derived outcomes will include sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep onset time, wake time, and sleep timing. Changes from baseline will be evaluated at Week 6 and Week 12 to assess the effects of the combined multivitamin-mineral supplementation and chronotherapy intervention on objective sleep-wake patterns.

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 6, and Week 12 (7 consecutive days of monitoring at each time point).

  3. Change in Bowel Habits and Gastrointestinal Symptoms Assessed Using a 7-Day Parent-Assisted Bowel Movement Diary

    Changes in bowel habits will be assessed using a 7-day parent-assisted bowel movement diary. Parents or caregivers will record daily bowel movement frequency, stool form using the Modified Bristol Stool Form Scale for Children (mBSFS-C), and associated gastrointestinal symptoms, including straining and abdominal pain. Outcomes will include average bowel movement frequency, distribution of stool form categories, and frequency of reported gastrointestinal symptoms. Changes from baseline will be evaluated at Week 6, Week 12, and the 3-month follow-up (Week 24).

    Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 6, Week 12, and Week 24 (3-month follow-up), with a 7-day bowel movement diary at each assessment.

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • UCSI University
    Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026
Registered
First appeared on the registry. No changes since
Nov 6, 2026
Show all 1 update
  1. Nov 6, 2026
    First appeared on the registry

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07922252
Lead sponsor
UCSI University
Collaborators
USANA Health Sciences
Responsible party
Satvinder Kaur (Principle Investigator, Associate Prof., UCSI University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Nov 6, 2026
Start date
Jan 1, 2027 (estimated)
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 31, 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 6, 2026

Study contacts

Shu Ly Lim, PhD
Contact
shuly.olab@gmail.com
+60108926366
Satvinder Kaur A/P Nachatar Singh, PhD
principal investigator · UCSI University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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