March 30, 2005 – For the first time, a study concludes that the majority of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD / HD) have iron deficiency1. The importance of iron in the development of cognitive skills was already known, but the link with AD / HD had not yet been studied.
To do this, French researchers recruited 53 children with AD / HD, aged 4 to 14, and 27 unaffected children. The protocol required that none of them had consumed the drug for at least two months before the start of the study. The level of ferritin, a protein that is used to store iron, has been measured in the blood serum of all children. This test is used to diagnose an iron deficiency.
In 84% of children with AD / HD, ferritin levels below normal (less than 30 ng / ml) were detected. In the control group, this proportion was only 18%.
In addition, the children with the most marked symptoms of AD / HD were those with the lowest ferritin levels. The authors of this study believe that 30% of the symptoms of AD / HD could be explained by low iron stores.
Iron is essential for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates areas in the brain that are responsible for attention, sense of organization and control of movement. A deficiency of iron could cause a decrease in dopamine in the brain, which would contribute to ADD / HD.
It remains to be seen, along with further studies, whether taking iron supplements might actually help children with this problem.
Hyperactivity and iodine
In addition, in a small observational study, Italian researchers found that children whose mothers suffered from iodine deficiency during the first trimester of pregnancy are more likely to have ADD. / H2. A total of 27 women participated in this ten-year study.
Iodine deficiency, rare in industrialized countries, causes hypothyroidism. To reduce the risk of ADD / HD, the group of researchers therefore recommended routine screening for hypothyroidism in women in early pregnancy. They point out that even in countries where iodine deficiency is rare, other factors can cause hypothyroidism. Another avenue for the scientific community to explore.
ADHD is a big problem. In Quebec, about 7% of boys and 2% of girls suffer from it.
Marie-Michèle Mantha – PasseportSanté.net
According to Reuters Health, December 2004.
1. Konofal E, Lecendreux M, Arnulf I, Mouren MC. Iron deficiency in children with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Dec; 158 (12): 1113-5.
2. Vermiglio F, Lo Presti VP, Moleti M, et al. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders in the offspring of mothers exposed to mild-moderate iodine deficiency: a possible novel iodine deficiency disorder in developed countries. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Dec; 89 (12): 6054-60.
