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You've probably noticed that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) has been "re-branded" in the mainstream medical
marketplace. Yep - it's not just for kids anymore. If we're to believe
the ads, it seems that adults also have problems focusing on
details and setting priorities.
With so much media 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.
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Bring on the kids
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The study itself is simple enough. Knowing that iron deficiency
may trigger abnormal neurotransmission, researchers at the
European Pediatric Hospital in Paris, France, evaluated the
deficiency of this mineral in two groups of adolescents.
As reported in the Archives of Pediatrics 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.
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The plus and the minus
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I knew that HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., would find this study
interesting. In the e-Alert "How to Dismantle an '89 Ford" (6/3/02),
Dr. Spreen wrote at some length about the ways nutrition directly
affects kids' behavior, 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.)"
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The bigger picture
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"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 (hemoglobin). 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
anemia (low iron levels) and still remained anemic!
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 normalized. 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 (colors, flavors, 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.
To read about them in more detail, you can easily use
key words to search for "How to Dismantle an '89 Ford"
in the HSI e- Alert archives on our web site: hsibaltimore.com.
****************************************************
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…and another thing
Can your diet affect your joints?
A friend of mine with arthritis recently asked me if there
were any foods she should stay away from that might
aggravate her condition. And in fact there are some
foods that can add to joint pain.
Many arthritis sufferers are highly sensitive to solanine,
an alkaloid known for its toxicity. Solanine is found in
plants called nightshade or deadly nightshade plants.
Well known edible nightshade plants include tomatoes,
potatoes, green and red peppers, eggplants, and cayenne.
Removing these solanine-rich foods from your diet may
be a good first step toward eliminating dietary triggers
of joint pain; a frequently overlooked element in the
treatment of arthritis.
You can find out more about foods that contribute to
arthritis symptoms in the HSI special report titled
"Overcoming Arthritis: Hidden Causes and
Permanent Solutions." Use this link for more information:
Obviously, a salad with tomatoes and green peppers
isn't going to be "deadly," but arthritis patients may find
some measure of relief with a reduced intake of nightshade
foods.
To Your Good Health,
Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
****************************************************
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****************************************************
Sources:
"Iron Deficiency in Children With Attention-
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder" Archives of Pediatrics
& Adolescent Medicine, Vol. 158, No. 12, December 2004,
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
