How nutrition may play a big role in ADHD

You've probably noticed that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been 're-branded' in the mainstream medical marketplace. Yes - it's not just for kids anymore. If we're to believe the so-called 'experts', it seems that adults also have problems focusing on details and setting priorities.

With so much attention devoted to the popular ADHD drugs targeted at this expanding customer base, it's rare to come across an ADHD study that doesn't involve any drugs at all. And even more rare is a study that dares imply that a nutritional deficiency might actually play a role in attention deficit.

Against all odds, however, I found such a study. And while its design and methods are refreshingly drug-free, the dietary conclusion requires a closer look.

Bring on the kids
The study itself is simple enough. Knowing that iron deficiency may trigger abnormal neurotransmission, researchers at the European Paediatric Hospital in Paris, evaluated the deficiency of this mineral in two groups of adolescents.

As reported in the Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, blood samples from more than 50 kids between the ages of 4 and 14 years - all diagnosed with ADHD - were examined to determine ferritin levels. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron. The researchers also examined blood samples from a control group of nearly 30 kids with no symptoms of ADHD.

The French team reported three striking results:

• The ADHD group had a lower average ferritin level compared to the control group.
• Almost 85 percent of the ADHD kids had abnormal ferritin levels, compared to less than 20 percent of the control subjects.
• The most severe ADHD symptoms were observed in kids with low ferritin levels.

In their conclusion, the researchers write that low iron stores may contribute to ADHD, and children with ADHD might benefit from iron supplementation.

The plus and the minus
I knew that HSI Panellist Dr Allan Spreen, would find this study interesting. In a past e-Alert, Dr. Spreen wrote at some length about the ways nutrition directly affects kids' behaviour, particularly in regard to ADHD.

After looking over the French research, Dr. Spreen told me he thought the results were dependable, and described the study as 'very helpful.' But he added: 'Then again, there's some reading between the lines that I would suggest...'

Dr. Spreen: 'Unfortunately, it can be a bit more difficult than just giving iron in such a situation. One of the rubs comes in when you try to evaluate whether the problem is actually iron or could these kids be generally nutritionally deficient? No levels of any other nutrients were taken, so we have no idea at all if the problem is really iron or a plethora of nutrients. (My personal experience leads me to believe that such kids are generally trashed, nutritionally, besides just iron, which is all that ferritin measures.)'

The bigger picture
'Okay, so let's say the problem is iron...alone. Most of the solutions tend to be inorganic iron in supplement form (or, heaven forbid, by injection). First, it tends to be poorly absorbed, and second, such agents are well known to generate the formation of free radicals, molecules that damage cell membranes throughout the body. That's why our bodies insulate us from our own iron by placing it within a heme ring (haemoglobin). We need the stuff for oxygen transfer, but we also need to be protected from it. That's why I recommend organic iron, as in calves liver (good luck getting THAT down a kid), or desiccated liver tablets.

'So the problem is STILL iron. Remember that, free radicals or not, it's possible that the iron may not be absorbed well. I've had several patients who took iron (including painful injections) for laboratory-confirmed anaemia (low iron levels) and still remained anaemic! When I threw in high levels of vitamin B-12 and folic acid (higher than the silly RDA), even if they were not clinically low in these nutrients, their iron levels normalised. That's why I've learned to take a more 'shotgun' approach, even if I think I know what the actual problem is.

'Ah, but it gets better (or, maybe, worse): I don't think correcting iron alone will do it (with or without B-12, folic acid, and maybe even digestive enzymes). If food allergies are not dealt with, if sugar and refined white flour are not massively lowered, if artificial additives are not eliminated (colours, flavours, MSG, preservatives, etc.), the changes from supplements could still fail to work properly.

'I FIRMLY believe ADHD is fixable...without drugs of any kind in the VAST majority of cases.'

If you have a child, a grandchild or a friend who may have been diagnosed with ADHD, I strongly recommend Dr. Spreen's nutritional tips for addressing this problem.

...and another thing
Just a reminder that the date for the Alliance for Natural Health's landmark legal case in the European Court of Justice to overturn the EU Food Supplements Directive is taking place on 25 January.

We are sending this message to seek your urgent assistance with the campaign to stop the EU Food Supplements Directive's proposed ban on 75% of vitamin and mineral forms, found in some 5000 products currently sold in UK health stores and via practitioners.

On the same evening of the ANH case, which takes place tomorrow, Conservative MP Chris Grayling and Labour MP Kate Hoey will lead a cross-Party effort to force the Government to renegotiate the Directive and end the threat to most bioavailable forms of vitamins and minerals in the UK.

The Opposition have given up half a day of the time allocated to them for this debate, and it will provide an opportunity for MPs to vote against the Directive and to instruct the Government to go back to Brussels and renegotiate its provisions.

The ANH needs your help to put as much pressure on MPs as possible to vote with them on Tuesday. Please can you send an email to your own MP at Westminster before Tuesday lunchtime urging them to back the motion and to oppose the Directive.

The email address for MPs works in the following way: the surname and the initial followed by @parliament.uk. So John Reid, the Health Secretary's email address would be reidj@parliament.uk and the Junior Minister involved, Melanie Johnson's would be johnsonm@parliament.uk.

You might like to send an email to both of them as well.

If you don't know who your MP is, please go to: http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/ and type in your postcode.

The Alliance for Natural Health, and its collaborating organisations in Europe and around the world, are in the last-chance saloon for leading-edge food (dietary) supplements. We have to get the UK Government - who are opposing the case in the European Court - to listen.

And if they won't, we need to let them know how angry we are.