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Fall 2006
LET'S FOCUS ON ADHD
As early as 1998, the National Institutes of Health named, attention deficit-hyperactivity
disorder as a real life disorder. It is the inability to focus and complete tasks, being scattered,
which leads to disorganization in thoughts and actions. We have all joked about it and have had
our, ADHD days, but have "recovered." But some people actually, struggled with this condition
daily and it's no laughing matter. In adults and children other traits appear as aggressiveness
and relationship problems. It is estimated that 4 per cent of adults live with this neurobiological
behavioral disorder and 3 to 5 per cent of children try to live and grow daily with ADHD.
Conventional methods usually are deal with drugs such as Ritalin, dexedrine, Adderall, and
Cylert. These are stimulant drugs believe to stimulate certain receptors in the frontal lobe of
the brain that allows people the ability to filter out some stimuli instead of reacting in a
unfavorable manner. Even today scientists are not exactly sure had these drugs work, and
side effects can be deadly. Sad to say, we have all watch the news of young people (in
particular), laden down with depression, headaches, insomnia, stomach discomforts, growth
impairment, elevated blood pressure, just to name a few. When we try and fool the receptors
cites, anywhere in our bodies, there are always wrong chemical messengers that deliver the "changed"
message to our cells, thus giving rise to side effects.
So is there any other way to balance the brain? Using nutritional supplements to treat ADHD,
have risen to the occasion, as a softer option, but a viable option.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
The average American diet plain and simple is sharply deficient in the good omega-3 essential fatty acids and
are overweight with the abundant dead, enriched, processed foods containing omega-6 fatty acids. This simple fact is easy to
understand, but has been grossly overlooked, and even covered up. Ready? Research has shown the kids with ADHD are
particularly deficient in EFA needed for optimal brain function. Could be call this a no-brainer?
There are no known side effects, with one exception, is a food allergy to fish or other
EFA sources. Changing the source of the EFA can be switched to another food source if this arises. An encouraging
study with 41 children ages 8 to 12 with specific difficulties and even a higher than average ADHD symptom confirmation
were randomly given EPA ( 186 mg eicosapentaenoic acid. 486 mg of docosahexanoic acid, 96 mg linolenic acid) and of
course the placebo for 12 week ( Richardson AJ, Puri BK. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of effects
of supplementations with highly unsaturated fatty acids on ADHD-related with specific learning difficulties. Prog
Neuropsy-chopharmacol Bio Psychiatry 2002;26:233-9). At the end of the 12 weeks cognitive problems and general behavior problems
significantly dropped with the EPA group.
Other studies have also confirmed similar results in adults. These adults confirmed with ADHD given a buffet of EPA
sources from supplements, but fish oil yield to be more effective in alleviating ADHD (Young GS et al. Effect of randomized
supplement with higher dose olive, flax, or fish on serum phospholipid fatty acids in adults with ADHD. Reprod Nutr Dev 2005 Sept
Oct;45 (5):549-58 disorder).
Other supporting supplements include magnesium, an essential mineral used by the body to relax muscles, generate energy,
and secrete insulin. Magnesium deficiency appears to play a role in ADHD. One study cited, containing 94 boys and 20 girls,
ages 9 to 12, found (via blood serum), 95% were below the normal ranges. By supplementing with magnesium, hyperactivity
was on the decline (Starobrat-Hemelin B, Kozielec. T. The effects of magnesium oral supplementation on hyperactivity in
children, with ADHD. Positive response to magnesium oral loading test. Magnes Res 1997;10;149-56). And zinc another humble mineral has proved to protect against free radical damage, synthesize protein, heal wounds,
may play a role in balancing humans with ADHD (Akhondzadeh S, et al. Zinc sulfate as
adjunct to methylphendiate for treatment
of ADHD in children: a double blind and randomized trial. BMC Psychiatry 2004;4-9).
In summation, we never suggest that any one stop taking the drugs prescribed. Every child and adult
needs to seek professional advice to be correctly diagnosed. But, for some of us (taken
as directed) supplements will support healthy brain function, thus given birth to less disruptive behavior patterns, and
hopefully promote a happy heart. And that’s a good thing!
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