Could a natural supplement quiet the distracted mind?

NCT ID NCT07777328

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Aug 20, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether 5-HTP, a natural chemical that the body turns into serotonin, can reduce distractibility in adults with high levels of ADHD traits. Participants take either 5-HTP or a placebo and then perform tasks that measure eye movements and reaction time to see if they are less easily distracted. The goal is to gather initial evidence on whether 5-HTP could one day support people with attention problems.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a dietary supplement that the body converts into serotonin
What this could lead to
If 5-HTP reduces distractibility, it could point toward a natural supplement to help people with attention problems.
What could go wrong
This is an early, small trial. 5-HTP may not affect distractibility, and it can cause side effects like nausea. Results may not apply to everyone with ADHD.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 150 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Nov 2025

Expected to finish

Jun 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 65 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * 18-65 years of age * Normal or corrected to normal vision with contact lenses. * Score of \<9 or \>14 on the ASRS v5 (assessed in pre screen questionnaire) Exclusion Criteria: * Current use of psychostimulant medication or medication for the treatment of ADHD * Current use of medications known to impact the serotonergic system (e.g., SSRIs). * Smoking or vaping * Pregnancy * Breast feeding * Lactose intolerance * Veganism * Dyslexia

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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  3. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Sheffield

    RECRUITING

    Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN, United Kingdom

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