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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) | | Description |
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADD or ADHD) is
defined as age-inappropriate impulsiveness, lack of
concentration, and sometimes excessive physical activity.
ADHD has been associated with learning difficulties and lack
of social skills. Obviously what constitutes "normal" in
these areas covers a wide spectrum, and thus it is unclear
which child suffers true ADHD and which child is just more
rambunctious or rebellious than another. No objective
criteria exist to accurately confirm the presence of ADHD.
ADHD often goes undiagnosed if not caught at an early age,
and it affects many adults who may not be aware of their
condition.
There are 3 subcategories of attention deficit disorder:
(1) attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: combined type
(2)
attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: predominantly inattentive
(3) attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: predominantly
hyperactive or impulsive
Cause
The cause of attention
deficit disorder is unknown. Some contributing factors include prenatal
toxic exposure and prematurity. There frequently is a family history of
school problems, behavioral disorders, or other psycho-social problems.
There is sometimes a history of injuries to the central nervous system.
However, there is no scientific evidence that shows conclusively that ANY
of these factors directly cause attention deficit disorder.
Incidence
The apparent incidence of ADD has been increasing over
the last 15 years, possibly related to better diagnosis, changing
expectations, or problems with supportive social structures. The disorder
affects 3 to 10% of all school-age boys and is 3 to 10 times more common
in males than females.
Risks
Typically affected children,
whether intellectually disabled or not, perform poorly in school because
of the inability to attend to tasks at hand or to sit still during the
school day. The diagnosis is generally not considered until school
age.
What are the symptoms of ADHD? ADHD
is generally recognized by a pattern of inattention, distractibility,
impulsivity, and hyperactivity estimated to affect 3 to 5% of school-aged
children. Learning disabilities or emotional problems often accompany
ADHD. Children with ADHD experience an inability to sit still and pay
attention in class, and they often engage in disruptive behavior.
Conventional Treatment Options: The main drug treatment for ADHD,
Ritalin (methylphenidate), is similar to amphetamine drugs. Although
methylphenidate is a stimulant, it has a paradoxically calming effect in
people with ADHD.
Dietary changes that may be helpful: The
two most studied dietary approaches to ADHD are the Feingold diet and a
hypoallergenic diet. The Feingold diet was developed by Benjamin Feingold,
M.D., on the premise that salicylates (chemicals similar to aspirin that
are found in a wide variety of foods) are an underlying cause of
hyperactivity. In some studies, this hypothesis does not appear to hold
up. However, in studies where markedly different levels of salicylates
were investigated, a causative role for salicylates could be detected in
some hyperactive children. As many as 10 to 25% of children may be
sensitive to salicylates. Parents of ADHD children can contact local
Feingold Associations for more information about which foods and medicines
contain salicylates.
The Feingold diet also eliminates synthetic
additives, dyes, and chemicals, which are commonly added to processed
foods. The yellow dye, tartrazine, has been specifically shown to provoke
symptoms in controlled studies of ADHD-affected children. Again, not every
child reacts, but enough do so that a trial avoidance may be worthwhile.
The Feingold diet is complex and requires guidance from either the
Feingold Association or a healthcare professional familiar with the
Feingold diet.
In one study, children diagnosed with ADHD were put
on a hypoallergenic diet, and those children who improved (about
one-third) were then challenged with food additives. All of them
experienced an aggravation of symptoms when given these additives. Other
studies have shown that eliminating individual allergenic foods and
additives from the diet can help children with attention
problems.
Some parents believe that consuming sugar may aggravate
ADHD. One study found that avoiding sugar reduced aggressiveness and
restlessness in hyperactive children. Girls who restrict sugar have been
reported to improve more than boys. However, a study using large amounts
of sugar and aspartame (NutraSweet) found that negative reactions to these
substances were limited to just a few children. While most studies have
not found sugar to stimulate hyperactivity, except in rare cases,11 the
experimental design of these studies may not have been ideal for
demonstrating an adverse effect of sugar on ADHD, if one exists. Further
studies are needed.
Lifestyle changes that may be helpful:
Smoking during pregnancy should be avoided, as it appears to increase the
risk of giving birth to a child who develops ADHD.
Lead and other
heavy-metal exposures have been linked to ADHD. If other therapies do not
seem to be helping a child with ADHD, the possibility of heavy-metal
exposure can be explored with a health practitioner.
Nutritional
supplements that may be helpful: Some children with ADHD have lowered
levels of magnesium. In a preliminary, controlled trial, children with
ADHD and low magnesium status were given 200 mg of magnesium per day for
six months. Compared with 25 other magnesium-deficient ADHD children,
those given magnesium supplementation had a significant decrease in
hyperactive behavior.
A deficiency of several essential fatty acids
has been observed in some children with ADHD compared with unaffected
children. One study gave children with ADHD evening primrose oil
supplements in an attempt to correct the problem. Although a degree of
benefit was seen, results were not pronounced.
B vitamins,
particularly vitamin B6, have also been used for ADHD. Deficient levels of
vitamin B6 have been detected in some ADHD patients. In a study of six
children with low blood levels of the neurotransmitter (chemical
messenger) serotonin, vitamin B6 supplementation (15-30 mg per 2.2 pounds
of body weight per day) was found to be more effective than
methylphenidate (Ritalin). However, lower amounts of vitamin B6 were not
beneficial. The effective amount of vitamin B6 in this study was extremely
large and could potentially cause nerve damage, although none occurred in
this study. A practitioner knowledgeable in nutrition must be consulted
when using high amounts of vitamin B6. High amounts of other B vitamins
have shown mixed results in relieving ADHD symptoms.
| | Related Products |
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