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The Effects of Lemon Essential Oil Inhalation on Attention in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Sponsor: Başakşehir Çam & Sakura City Hospital
Summary
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.
Official title: Lemon Essential Oil Inhalation Improves Sustained Attention in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Placebo-Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
9 Years - 16 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
52
Start Date
2022-02-15
Completion Date
2023-09-30
Last Updated
2026-05-14
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Lemon Essential Oil Inhalation
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.
placebo inhalation
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.
Locations (1)
Basaksehir Cam ve Sakura City Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)