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Natural support for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Better Nutrition - November 1, 1997

In this fast-paced world it would seem like those who roar through daily life with the energy of a Ferrari have it made. While most of us putt along looking for something to really rev up our engines, these non-stop racers are just hoping to slow down before they run off the road or hit the wall -- again.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, commonly referred to as ADHD, wastes energy with constant, uncontrollable output -- like a Ferrari that runs on overdrive all the time. Not just for children anymore, studies estimate as many as 9.5 million adults suffer from ADHD.

Many of these adults are only discovering that they have ADHD when their children are diagnosed with the disorder. ADHD's chronic pattern of inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity may have followed these new, older patients since childhood. In their wake, ADHD sufferers leave a string of jobs, broken marriages, fractured friendships, unfinished college degrees, and daily frustrations.

While adult diagnosis is new, ADHD is known to affect up to 5 percent of school-age children. Studies of children with ADHD point to a number of causal factors including genetics, neurotransmitter imbalances, lead poisoning, and food sensitivities.

A recent study in Indiana published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition linked ADHD to essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency. While the study diets of the children with ADHD actually contained more EFAs than did the diets of the control-group children, they didn't end up with nearly as much in their systems as did the control-group children who ate less. This could mean that some people with ADHD have trouble metabolizing, converting, or transporting EFAs.

EFAs. EFAs are only manufactured in minute quantities by the body so they must be supplied by the diet or supplemented. The two classes of EFAs are Omega-3 and Omega-6.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish like salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, and sardines, as well as flax oil and wild game. Fatty fish oil contains the highest levels of EPA. Unprocessed vegetable oils, seeds, and nuts are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids. Borage, evening primrose, and black current oils contain the highest concentrations of gamma-linolenic acid.

EFAs are known to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. The link to ADHD may be the fact that the brain contains high levels of EFAs which greatly affect the transmission of nerve impulses and hormonal responses.

EFAs are critical to proper brain function and transmission of nerve impulses. Studies by Japanese researchers found that a deficiency in Omega-3 fatty acids like DHA may result in an inability to learn and retain information.

Symptoms of EFA deficiency include increased thirst, frequent urination, brittle nails, dandruff, and dry skin and hair. ADHD study subjects also had more ear infections, allergies, asthma, and frequent use of antibiotics.

From the Indiana study, it appears one cause of ADHD could be an inability to process the essential fatty acids in food. Still, previous studies have shown ADHD symptoms disappeared when supplements were added to correct dietary deficiencies. The link is clear, but the proper treatment is still cloudy.

The prevailing medical treatment for ADHD is the drug Ritalin. Demand for this stimulant has jumped with the discovery of ADHD in adults -- an estimated 729,000 prescriptions will be written this year.

Ritalin is designed to boost levels of dopamine -- a chemical ADHD sufferers have in short supply. Like drinking a cup of black coffee in the morning, the stimulant is said to help ADHD sufferers concentrate but it is expensive and not without side effects. Ritalin costs about $9.45 a week for an adult dose and can cause irritability and insomnia.

Valerian. A natural alternative to Ritalin is a well-known herbal cure for insomnia--valerian. German studies show valerian improves mental concentration while slowing overall motor activity. Working on the nervous system, valerian soothes erratic pitches of tension and calms hyperactivity, allowing ADHD sufferers to concentrate on the task at hand.

Taken in a tea, tincture, or capsule, studies show valerian root improves coordination, increases concentration, and boosts energy levels. A natural paradox, valerian helps assure restful sleep by relieving stress and soothing the nervous system.

List of reference available.

Shannon Quinn discusses essential fatty acids and valerian, along with other herbs and supplements, in the book Death by Deception: Unmasking Heart Failure. For more information, ask your retailer to call 1-800-283-3998.

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