Dr Nurina Katta. Dr Katta completed her PhD in Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Lab at the University of Canterbury
Understanding Emotion Dysregulation in Children
When children struggle to manage their emotions, it can show up as severe irritability, temper outbursts, anger, or even aggression. These challenges can affect them now and in the future, leading to issues like stress, anxiety, depression, trouble at school, difficulties with friends, and even poorer physical health (Fergussen et al., 2005; Galera et al., 2020; Leibenluft et al. 2006; Moffitt et al., 2011; Stringaris, 2009; Zeman et al., 2006).
How Common Is It?
Emotion dysregulation is quite common among children and young individuals, indicating that current treatments are not sufficient enough to meet the demand.
Can Vitamins and Minerals Help?
There’s growing evidence that micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) can make have a positive impact on emotion dysregulation symptoms.
For example, a study with 14 children with ADHD who took micronutrients showed significant improvements in behaviour and fewer conduct problems (Gordon et al., 2015). Other research has shown reductions in aggression, mood swings, and hyperactivity (Rucklidge, Taylor, et al., 2011; Rucklidge et al., 2018), and a recent trial found that more than half (54%) of children with ADHD and emotional challenges who took micronutrients improved significantly, compared to just 18% in the placebo group (Johnstone et al., 2022).
Most recently, a study with university students found that micronutrients absorbed in the mouth helped reduce irritability and anger (Katta et al., 2023). This study used a dissolvable powder instead of capsules, which could be great for children who might find swallowing pills difficult.
Why This Matters
Irritability and emotional struggles in childhood can have a big impact on a child’s overall wellbeing. Current treatments have variable impact with some concerning side effects, as such, exploring alternative and additional treatments is important.
The SUNNY trial investigated the effects of a micronutrient powder dissolved in the mouth on children aged 5-10 with moderate to severe emotion dysregulation. Here’s how the study was structured:
- Children were randomly assigned to two groups, either starting the treatment right away for four weeks (treatment group) or waiting for four weeks (waitlist control group).
- Throughout weeks 8 and 12 of the trial, the groups alternated between taking the micronutrients and stopping them to see how it affected their symptoms.
- Finally, everyone took the micronutrients continuously for three months to see if the benefits lasted.
What Did We Find?
After four weeks, children taking the micronutrients showed significantly reduced symptoms compared to those in the waitlist control group, and 67% in the treatment group improved ‘much’ or ‘very much,’ compared to just 8% in the waitlist group, based on clinician ratings (CGI-I). Further, symptoms of ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder also decreased significantly more in the treatment group compared to the waitlist group.
These benefits were observed when children took the treatment, and symptoms returned, although to a lesser degree, when children stopped taking it. The positive effects of the treatment were maintained throughout the treatment maintenance phase.
Overall, most children adhered to the treatment well, with a treatment adherence rate of 93%.
For more details, feel free to check out our findings.
Takeaway
Over the last two decades, nutritional interventions have increasingly received attention in treating psychological symptoms. Since emotion dysregulation in childhood can have negative effects on overall wellbeing, it is important to continue to research interventions in the field.
While more research is needed to confirm these findings, this study indicates that micronutrients absorbed in the mouth may represent an effective and safe treatment for emotion dysregulation in children.
Acknowledgments
This research was proudly funded by the University of Canterbury and supported by a PhD scholarship from the UC Child and Well-being Research Institute. Thanks to Truehope for donating the product used in the study, although they did not provide any financial support or input into the design, interpretation, data analyses, or publication.
What’s next?
Following up on these findings, we are currently running the M&M Trial, investigating the efficacy of micronutrients and mindfulness as interventions for children struggling with emotion dysregulation. We are now looking for children aged 6-10 who have issues regulating their emotions, interested families are encouraged to check out the study here if interested.
