Nutritional implications in neurodivergent conditions

Neurodevelopmental disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Down syndrome (DS), intellectual disability (ID), and epilepsy are associated with overlapping behavioural, metabolic, and neurobiological vulnerabilities that influence nutritional status. Across conditions, consistent deficiencies in vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and key micronutrients such as iron, zinc, magnesium, and B-vitamins are frequently reported, contributing to shared mechanisms of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired neurotransmitter synthesis, and gut brain axis disruption. Clinical evidence indicates that vitamin D demonstrates the most robust cross condition benefits, improving neuroimmune regulation, serotonergic pathways, and motor and cognitive outcomes. Omega-3 fatty acids support synaptic function, membrane stability, and anti-inflammatory lipid mediator production, while multi micronutrient formulations enhance one carbon metabolism, mitochondrial energy generation, and antioxidant defence. In epilepsy, ketogenic dietary therapies exert neuroprotective and antiseizure effects through ketone-driven modulation of GABAergic signalling, mitochondrial efficiency, and reduced neuronal excitability. Despite nutritional vulnerabilities, neurodivergent individuals exhibit significant strengths, including enhanced pattern recognition, visual spatial reasoning, creativity, persistence, and distinctive problem solving approaches. Recognizing these strengths is essential to delivering person-centred nutritional and therapeutic interventions. Overall, current clinical and mechanistic evidence demonstrates that nutrition is a meaningful modifiable factor shaping neurodevelopmental trajectories. Integrating systematic nutritional assessment with individualized interventions may optimize behavioural, developmental, and functional outcomes, while future research should prioritize biomarker-guided precision nutrition strategies to refine therapeutic applications across neurodevelopmental conditions.