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The Link Between Nutrition And Childhood Behavioural Problems
This set alarm bells ringing in my brain, but luckily, I knew that Natalie would first investigate all other possible treatments before allowing a hard-core pharmaceutical like Ritalin to pass Annie’s lips.
Difficult behaviours
Ask most parents to list the top three most challenging behavioural disorders a parent may have to face and they will say Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Dyspraxia, which is characterised by a pronounced clumsiness, and dyslexia - where problems in reading and recognising letters can make school learning a nightmare - may also both make it on to the list.
So, here’s a thought many parents may not have had: Is it possible that all these disorders are possibly linked in some why?
Luckily there’s been a few neuroscientists investigating what’s going wrong in the brains of children suffering from behavioural disorders and found that there may be no need to give all these disorders different names or even different treatments. According to studies done since 2002, if you look at these disorders on a molecular level, what’s happening is the exact same biochemical malfunction.
The link between these conditions first came to light when researchers realised that very few children had just one or the other disorder but that most often they overlap. Between ADHD and Dyslexia, for instance, the overlap ranges from 30- 50 per cent; between ADHD and Dyspraxia, and between Dyslexia and Dyspraxia it is 50 per cent.
It all adds up
Research by Dr. Richardson and Dr Puri suggest that all these behavioural problems may be linked by an underlying inability to convert Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) in the diet into the Highly Unsaturated fatty Acids (HUFAs) - which are crucial to healthy brain functioning and thus, behaviour and performance. This came after a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of supplementation with highly unsaturated fatty acids on ADHD-related symptoms in children with specific learning difficulties.
The reason why these unsaturated fatty acids are so crucial is simple. The membranes of the brain cells are made up of phospholipids comprised of fatty acids. The more unsaturated those fatty acids, the more fluid the membrane and thus, the more effective cell-to-cell signalling. There are two key reason your child’s brain may be having a problem converting EFAs to HUFAs. The first is that since the body cannot make essential fatty acids but must rely on dietary intake, they may simply not be getting enough EFAs in the diet in the first place. The second is that even if they do get enough (which is unlikely) something is then going wrong with the EFA to HUFA conversion mechanism itself.
Let’s look at some of the factors that can impair the conversion of EFAs to HUFAs in the body in both children and adults:
- Saturated, hydrogenated, and transfats in the diet all obstruct the conversion process. What are junk-food- diets rich in? All three of the above. * There may underlying deficiencies in zinc and vitamin B6, both of which play key roles in the conversion process too.
- Any excess of alcohol or coffee will impair this process and so will smoking.
- Too many stress hormones circulating will have an adverse effect.
- Viral infections since viruses can disable the conversion mechanism.
- A history of allergies, including eczema or psoriasis, suggesting a link with immune functioning too.
- Being male. The female hormone, oestrogen, helps the body convert EFAs to HUFAs. Conversely, testosterone impeded the enzyme that builds HUFAs.
- Signs of essential fatty acid deficiency, which include frequent urination, excessive thirst, dry skin and hair, soft and brittle nails, poor concentration, and disturbed sleep patterns - all symptoms frequently reported by parents of children diagnosed with these now seemingly-related disorders.
Start with dietary changes
So, as a parent with a child that displays behavioural problems, it may make more sense to first visit a nutritionist before you make an appointment with an educational psychologist or paediatric psychiatrist. There are also a few things you can do on your own to start with:
- Eliminate salicylate-rich foods (foods that naturally thin the blood), such as apples, oranges, and tomatoes - which can all aggravate the problem.
- Supplement the diet with a high dose (1g a day/2 tablespoons of a liquid supplement) of essential fatty acids from either unpolluted fish (EPA fish oils) or, if you prefer a vegetarian option, flaxseed oils. If your child dislikes the taste, hide the oil in salad dressings and remember, since clinical trials show it can take three months before you see any significant improvements, you will need to be patient.
- A number of children with behavioural problems have also been found to have low levels of the brain chemical, serotonin, so taking the same steps through both diet and natural medicine to boost production of this feel-good neurotransmitter will help too. Many, especially those aged five to nine, are also low in zinc so again, parents should consider a high dose daily supplement of 10mg of this nutrient as well.
Last by not the least
Don’t forget vitamin D (D3 that is - which is the purest form not synthetic). Scientists at the Children's Hospital and Research Centre in Oakland California, in the US have found that a lack of vitamin D can cause brain dysfunction. It turns out that vitamin D affects proteins in the brain directly involved in learning, memory, and motor control. There's also a suggestion, no proof yet, that lack of vitamin D is involved with controlling behaviour.
Lots of parents report dramatic improvements when they use Australian Bush Flower Cognis remedy – a combination therapy. It includes Bush Fuschia, which integrates left and right brain function; Paw Paw, which will help a child who is feeling overwhelmed by the pressures on them; Sundew, which addresses any lack of focus and feelings of being spaced out; and Isopogen, which promotes memory and has been used in Australia for Alzheimer’s patients.
What you really should be doing, of course, is talking to a nutritionist with a special interest in these problems, most of which have also been linked back to the use of antibiotics in the first six months of infancy although nobody can yet explain why. Synthetic food colourings and flavourings have also been linked with childhood behavioural problems, so try and cut down in your child’s intake of these substances too.
Related Reading:
How Nutrition May Play A Big Role In ADHD
Sources:
‘Foods that Naturally Thin the Blood’ published online,
ctds.info/natthinners.html
‘Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder’ published online,
National Women's Health Resource Centre, prevention.com
‘Difficult Behaviours’ by Melissa Clark, published online,
whatreallyworks.co.uk
‘All Natural Remedies for ADHD Children’ by Manda Spring,
published online 18/03/09, brighthub.com
‘Attention Deficit Disorder’ published online,
ridgeviewmedical.org
‘Brain Boosters for Your Kids’ by Dr. Mary-Jo Wagner,
published online 01/05/08, brainboostersforyourkids.blogspot.com
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