#560: Neurodiversity & Nutrition: Choline, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Beyond – Emma Derbyshire, PhD

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Introduction

Nutrition is increasingly being considered as a modifiable factor that may influence neurodevelopmental outcomes. While severe deficiencies in certain nutrients are known to have dramatic effects, there is growing interest in the potential impact of more subtle insufficiencies — particularly during critical windows such as pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood.

In conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, and autism spectrum condition (ASC), questions have been raised around whether specific nutrients may play a role in cognitive performance, attention, or learning.

  • Could low choline intake be a contributing factor to altered brain function?
  • Are individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions more likely to have different nutrient needs or metabolic profiles?
  • And how might practical dietary strategies fit into a broader management approach?

In this episode, Dr. Emma Derbyshire discusses the evidence on choline and other brain-related nutrients in the context of neurodiversity.

Guest Information

Emma Derbyshire, PhD

Dr Emma Derbyshire is founder and CEO of Nutritional Insight. She has a degree in Nutritional Biochemistry, PhD in Human Nutrition specialising in Maternal (Pregnancy) Nutrition and Gut Function and is a Registered Public Health Nutritionist.

She has expertise across a range of nutrition fields including maternal nutrition, neurodevelopment, food-based dietary guidelines, functional foods, immunonutrition, and shifting nutrition trends. Emma is the UK lead on Choline and has driven awareness of this important nutrient.

She has written 200+ peer-reviewed nutrition publications and authored the successful Wiley-Blackwell text “Nutrition in the Childbearing Years”. She is also the author of “Nutrition for ADHD and Dyslexia: Unlocking the Potential for Learning and Wellbeing”.

Timestamps

  • [02:02] Guest background
  • [05:38] Choline: what it is and why it matters
  • [07:26] Research challenges: measuring choline and study design issues
  • [10:49] Maternal intake: choline’s role in fetal brain development
  • [14:24] Choline & neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, ASC, dyslexia)
  • [17:14] The choline gap: intake vs. requirements
  • [23:05] Supplementation: adequacy vs. excess and safety concerns
  • [25:05] Food sources: choline in the diet & intake planning
  • [30:14] Nutrition as a tool in ADHD and dyslexia management
  • [38:45] Other key nutrients (omega-3s, iron, iodine, magnesium, water)

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