The Effects of Lemon Essential Oil Inhalation on Attention in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
8. Mai 2026 aktualisiert von: Başakşehir Çam & Sakura City Hospital
Lemon Essential Oil Inhalation Improves Sustained Attention in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Placebo-Controlled Trial
This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the acute effects of lemon essential oil inhalation on sustained attention and visual memory in children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Fifty-two medication-naive children aged 9-16 were randomized to receive either lemon oil or placebo inhalation before cognitive assessments.
Primary outcome was sustained attention performance.
The study found significant improvements in attention scores in the lemon oil group.
Studienübersicht
Status
Abgeschlossen
Bedingungen
Intervention / Behandlung
Detaillierte Beschreibung
This randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind clinical trial investigates the acute effects of lemon essential oil (LEO) inhalation on sustained attention and visual memory in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Essential oils, particularly those rich in monoterpenes such as limonene, have demonstrated neuroactive properties through cholinergic modulation and limbic-prefrontal engagement via the olfactory pathway.
Fifty-two children aged 9-16 years, newly diagnosed with ADHD and not receiving any pharmacological treatment, were randomized to either the LEO group or the placebo group. Participants in the LEO group inhaled 5 drops of 100% pure Citrus limon essential oil via a cotton pad for five minutes prior to cognitive testing. The placebo group received an identical application with odorless distilled water.
Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline and 30 days later using the D2 Attention Test (primary outcome) and the Benton Visual Memory Test (secondary outcome). The entire intervention was conducted under standardized conditions, with blinded outcome assessment and strict adherence to procedural fidelity.
This study is the first to evaluate the short-term cognitive effects of lemon essential oil inhalation in children with clinical ADHD and aims to provide evidence for potential non-pharmacological support strategies.
Studientyp
Interventionell
Einschreibung (Tatsächlich)
52
Phase
- Unzutreffend
Kontakte und Standorte
Dieser Abschnitt enthält die Kontaktdaten derjenigen, die die Studie durchführen, und Informationen darüber, wo diese Studie durchgeführt wird.
Studienorte
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Istanbul, Türkei (türkiye)
- Basaksehir Çam Ve Sakura City Hospital
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Teilnahmekriterien
Forscher suchen nach Personen, die einer bestimmten Beschreibung entsprechen, die als Auswahlkriterien bezeichnet werden. Einige Beispiele für diese Kriterien sind der allgemeine Gesundheitszustand einer Person oder frühere Behandlungen.
Zulassungskriterien
Studienberechtigtes Alter
- Kind
Akzeptiert gesunde Freiwillige
Ja
Beschreibung
Inclusion Criteria:
- Children aged 9 to 16 years
- Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) based on DSM-5 criteria
- Medication-naive (not currently using or previously treated with pharmacological agents for ADHD)
- No chronic medical or psychiatric comorbidities
- Capable of completing standardized cognitive assessments (e.g., D2 Attention Test, Benton Visual Memory Test)
- Written informed consent obtained from a parent or legal guardian
- Written assent obtained from the child
Exclusion Criteria:
- Lack of written parental consent or child assent
- Inability to comply with the study protocol (e.g., refusal to complete cognitive testing or intervention procedure)
- Current or prior use of ADHD medication
- Presence of moderate-to-severe ADHD symptoms requiring immediate pharmacological treatment (based on AACAP 2020 and NICE 2019 guidelines)
- Presence of any chronic medical or psychiatric comorbid condition
- Diagnosis not confirmed by a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist
Studienplan
Dieser Abschnitt enthält Einzelheiten zum Studienplan, einschließlich des Studiendesigns und der Messung der Studieninhalte.
Wie ist die Studie aufgebaut?
Designdetails
- Hauptzweck: Unterstützende Pflege
- Zuteilung: Zufällig
- Interventionsmodell: Parallele Zuordnung
- Maskierung: Single
Waffen und Interventionen
Teilnehmergruppe / Arm |
Intervention / Behandlung |
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Experimental: Lemon Essential Oil Inhalation (LEO)
Participants in this arm received a single-session inhalation of 100% pure lemon essential oil (Citrus limon) via a sterile cotton pad.
Five drops of essential oil were applied to the pad, which was held approximately 5 cm from the participant's nose.
The child inhaled the scent for 5 minutes under supervision in a clinical setting.
Neuropsychological testing (D2 Attention Test and Benton Visual Memory Test) followed immediately after inhalation.
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This intervention consists of a single-session, short-term olfactory exposure to 100% pure lemon essential oil (Citrus limon, ISO 9235 compliant, GC-MS confirmed composition: limonene 67.2%, β-pinene 12.3%, γ-terpinene 9.8%).
Five drops were applied to a sterile cotton pad and held approximately 5 cm from the participant's nose.
Participants inhaled the aroma for 5 minutes under direct supervision in a quiet, odor-free clinical setting.
This intervention was administered immediately prior to standardized neuropsychological assessments measuring attention and visual memory.
No ingestion or topical application occurred.
Andere Namen:
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Placebo-Komparator: Placebo Inhalation (Distilled Water)
Participants in this arm received a single-session inhalation of distilled water as placebo.
Five drops of distilled water were applied to a sterile cotton pad, which was held approximately 5 cm from the participant's nose.
The child inhaled the scentless solution for 5 minutes under supervision.
Neuropsychological testing (D2 Attention Test and Benton Visual Memory Test) followed immediately after inhalation.
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The placebo condition involved the same protocol as the intervention group, using five drops of distilled water applied to a sterile cotton pad.
The pad was held approximately 5 cm from the participant's nose, and inhalation lasted for 5 minutes.
The procedure was designed to mimic the intervention without olfactory stimulation, ensuring consistency in timing, setting, and administration method.
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Was misst die Studie?
Primäre Ergebnismessungen
Ergebnis Maßnahme |
Maßnahmenbeschreibung |
Zeitfenster |
|---|---|---|
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Change in D2 Attention Test Total Performance Score (TN-E)
Zeitfenster: Baseline and Day 30 (after intervention)
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The D2 Attention Test evaluates sustained attention and concentration performance.
The TN-E (Total Number of Correct Items minus Errors) score reflects attentional capacity.
A higher post-intervention TN-E score indicates improved attention.
The difference between baseline and Day 30 scores will be compared between the lemon essential oil group and placebo group.
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Baseline and Day 30 (after intervention)
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Sekundäre Ergebnismessungen
Ergebnis Maßnahme |
Maßnahmenbeschreibung |
Zeitfenster |
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Change in Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) Score
Zeitfenster: Baseline and Day 30 (after intervention)
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The Benton Visual Retention Test assesses visual memory and visuospatial construction skills.
Scores range based on correct reproductions of geometric figures.
The change in BVRT scores from baseline to Day 30 will be analyzed to assess the impact of lemon essential oil inhalation versus placebo.
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Baseline and Day 30 (after intervention)
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Mitarbeiter und Ermittler
Hier finden Sie Personen und Organisationen, die an dieser Studie beteiligt sind.
Studienaufzeichnungsdaten
Diese Daten verfolgen den Fortschritt der Übermittlung von Studienaufzeichnungen und zusammenfassenden Ergebnissen an ClinicalTrials.gov. Studienaufzeichnungen und gemeldete Ergebnisse werden von der National Library of Medicine (NLM) überprüft, um sicherzustellen, dass sie bestimmten Qualitätskontrollstandards entsprechen, bevor sie auf der öffentlichen Website veröffentlicht werden.
Haupttermine studieren
Studienbeginn (Tatsächlich)
15. Februar 2022
Primärer Abschluss (Tatsächlich)
30. September 2023
Studienabschluss (Tatsächlich)
30. September 2023
Studienanmeldedaten
Zuerst eingereicht
24. Dezember 2025
Zuerst eingereicht, das die QC-Kriterien erfüllt hat
8. Mai 2026
Zuerst gepostet (Tatsächlich)
14. Mai 2026
Studienaufzeichnungsaktualisierungen
Letztes Update gepostet (Tatsächlich)
14. Mai 2026
Letztes eingereichtes Update, das die QC-Kriterien erfüllt
8. Mai 2026
Zuletzt verifiziert
1. Dezember 2025
Mehr Informationen
Begriffe im Zusammenhang mit dieser Studie
Schlüsselwörter
Zusätzliche relevante MeSH-Bedingungen
Andere Studien-ID-Nummern
- 10.06.2021-21
Plan für individuelle Teilnehmerdaten (IPD)
Planen Sie, individuelle Teilnehmerdaten (IPD) zu teilen?
NEIN
Beschreibung des IPD-Plans
Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared for this study due to ethical considerations, privacy protection regulations involving minors, and the absence of prior consent for data sharing beyond the scope of this trial.
Additionally, the study was conducted with a small sample size from a single center, limiting the generalizability and reuse of anonymized data for broader analysis.
Arzneimittel- und Geräteinformationen, Studienunterlagen
Studiert ein von der US-amerikanischen FDA reguliertes Arzneimittelprodukt
Nein
Studiert ein von der US-amerikanischen FDA reguliertes Geräteprodukt
Nein
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