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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.
Related resources
- Join the Sigma newsletter for free
- Subscribe to Sigma Nutrition Premium
- Enroll in the next cohort of our Applied Nutrition Literacy course
- Book: Nutrition for ADHD and Dyslexia: Unlocking the Potential for Learning and Wellbeing
- Dr. Derbyshire’s website: https://www.nutritional-insight.co.uk/
- [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)
Guest Information
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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”.
Danny Lennon has a master’s degree (MSc.) in Nutritional Sciences from University College Cork, and he is the founder of Sigma Nutrition.
Danny is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Sports Nutrition Association, the global regulatory body responsible for the standardisation of best practice in the sports nutrition profession.
Introduction to this Episode
Neurodiversity refers to the natural variations in brain development and cognition, including conditions like ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and dyslexia. This episode explores how nutrition – particularly the essential nutrient choline – may influence neurodevelopment and cognitive function in neurodiverse populations. Dr. Emma Derbyshire discusses emerging evidence linking diet to brain outcomes, especially in early life, and highlights why even subtle nutrient shortfalls could impact attention, learning, and behavior.
The conversation is highly relevant to public health and clinical practice, given the rising awareness of neurodevelopmental conditions and the potential for nutritional strategies to support brain health. Many neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., ADHD and dyslexia) affect a significant portion of children and adults, posing challenges in education and daily life.
Traditionally, management focuses on behavioral and medical interventions, but nutrition is an underappreciated piece of the puzzle. Derbyshire emphasizes that while robust evidence is still limited, certain nutrients are biologically critical for brain development. Ensuring adequate intake of these nutrients (in the general population and in vulnerable groups like pregnant women or neurodiverse individuals) could help optimize cognitive outcomes.
This has public health importance: for example, if a large share of the population has below-optimal intake of a brain-essential nutrient, addressing that gap might improve developmental and educational outcomes at scale. Overall, the episodeʼs central theme is that improving diet quality and correcting nutrient deficiencies – especially choline – may be a simple yet powerful way to support neurodiverse brains alongside other interventions.
About The Guest
Dr Emma Derbyshire is founder and CEO of Nutritional Insight. She has a degree in Nutritional Biochemistry, PhD in Human Nutrition specialising in Maternal 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.
Useful Terminology for this Episode
- Neurodiversity: A concept recognizing that neurological differences (like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, etc.) are natural variations of the human brain. It frames these conditions not solely as “disorders” but as part of normal diversity in cognitive functioning and development.
- ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder): A common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. ADHD often first appears in childhood and can persist into adulthood, affecting ~5–8% of children worldwide.
- Dyslexia: A learning disorder marked by difficulty with reading, spelling, and word recognition despite normal intelligence and educational opportunity. Dyslexia is thought to affect roughly 5–10% (or more) of the population. It stems from differences in how the brain processes language and is considered a neurodevelopmental condition (often co-occurring with ADHD in some individuals).
- Choline: An essential nutrient required for numerous biological functions, especially in the brain. Choline is a precursor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and a building block of cell membranes (as phosphatidylcholine). It also supports methylation pathways (one-carbon metabolism). The body makes only small amounts of choline, so it must be obtained from diet (foods like eggs, meat, fish, legumes) or supplements.
- Acetylcholine: A neurotransmitter crucial for memory, learning, attention, and muscle control. It is synthesized in the body from choline. Adequate choline intake is necessary to maintain acetylcholine production in the brain, which in turn influences cognitive processes like concentration and the formation of new memories.
- Processing Speed: A cognitive function referring to how quickly one can perceive information, process it, and respond (mentally or physically). It is an important aspect of learning and executive function. In the context of dyslexia or ADHD, processing speed can affect how efficiently a person reads, comprehends, or shifts attention.
