Food supplements for ADHD: are they effective or not?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in childhood. Medication treatment is useful in relieving / relieving symptoms of ADHD, the specialists stressing the importance of diagnosing and starting treatment early.

 

Currently there is no treatment to cure ADHD; however, the medication, together with the behavioral therapy, manages to improve the symptoms in 80-90% of cases, say the specialists. Symptoms of this disorder include hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, and attention and concentration difficulties.

 

Supplements for hormonal regulation, vitamins and minerals

Research shows that people diagnosed with ADHD have numerous vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Despite this fact, there is currently no conclusive evidence that mineral deficiencies are responsible for the onset of ADHD. In some cases, vitamin and mineral deficiencies are a consequence of ADHD medication. For example, stimulant drugs can suppress your appetite, which can lead to decreased nutrient intake. Also, certain nutritional deficiencies can aggravate ADHD or cause symptoms that mimic this behavioral disorder.

 

Melatonin

This is a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Specialists say this may be helpful for children with ADHD who are experiencing sleep disorders. In many cases, sleep disorders are a side effect of stimulant drugs that doctors prescribe to treat ADHD. These have the task of increasing activity in both the brain and the central nervous system. Although they often improve ADHD symptoms, they can lead to sleep disorders: difficulty sleeping, insomnia, drowsiness during the day.

 

A study from 2019 showed that melatonin effectively improved sleep problems in 60.8% of the 74 research participants, who received different doses of melatonin for at least 4 weeks.

 

Vitamin D

It plays an important role in the development and functioning of the brain. Several studies have shown that there is a link between vitamin D deficiency and behavioral disorders such as ADHD.

 

A 2018 study compared vitamin D levels in children with and without ADHD. Those with ADHD had significantly lower levels of vitamin D. In the second phase of the study, the researchers divided the children who had vitamin D deficiency into two groups. One group received vitamin D supplements for 8 weeks, while the other group received a placebo. Children who received vitamin D supplements had significant improvements in attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, compared with those receiving placebo.

 

Iron

Low levels of iron in the blood can lead to a decrease in the level of dopamine, a chemical secreted by the brain. Research shows that people with ADHD tend to have low levels of dopamine in the brain. Some scientists thus believe that iron deficiency can play an important role in the development of ADHD.

 

Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids

Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids play an important role in brain health. After analyzing 16 studies in which patients received either a supplement with Omega 3 or Omega 6 or a placebo, the scientists concluded that participants who received the fatty acid supplements improved their attention, visual memory, short-term memory. Progress was also observed in hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.




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