Originally, the term attention deficit disorder (ADD) referred to children who were incapable of concentrating at school. Hyperkinesia was used somewhat synonymously, as a descriptive term for children who simply couldn’t sit still. Today, the definition has broadened to include many adults, and has been refined into two conditions: ADD and ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder). Characteristics include difficulty sustaining attention or completing tasks, easy distractibility, impulsive behavior, and, in the case of ADHD, an excessive inclination to fidget and move about. These problems make it difficult to succeed at work or at school.
Conventional treatment focuses on stimulants, such as amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), as well as the newer drug atomoxetine (Strattera). Certain antidepressants may also be useful.
DMAE
There is some evidence that the supplement DMAE (2-Dimethylaminoethanol) may be helpful for ADD, according to studies performed in the 1970s. Two such studies were reported in a review article. 1 Fifty children aged 6 to 12 years who had been diagnosed with hyperkinesia participated in a double-blind study comparing DMAE to placebo . The dose was increased from 300 mg daily to 500 mg daily by the third week and continued for 10 weeks. Evaluations revealed statistically significant test score improvements in the treatment group compared to the placebo group.
Another double-blind study compared DMAE with both Ritalin and placebo in 74 children with "learning disabilities." 1 (It appears that today, the participants would have been given a diagnosis of ADD). The study found significant test score improvement for both treatment groups over a 10-week period.
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full DMAE article.
Zinc
The mineral zinc has shown some promise for treatment of ADHD. In a large double-blind, placebo-controlled study (approximately 400 participants), use of zinc at a dose of 35 mg daily produced statistically significant benefits as compared to placebo. 26 This dose of zinc is higher than nutritional needs, but not so high as to be unsafe. However, the benefits seen were quite modest: about 28% of the participants given zinc showed improvement, but so did 20% in the placebo group.
Another, much smaller study evaluated whether zinc at 15 mg per day could enhance the effect of Ritalin. 27 Again, modest benefits were seen. Finally, exceedingly weak evidence hints that zinc might enhance the effectiveness of evening primrose oil for ADHD (see next section). 28
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full Zinc article.
Essential Fatty Acids
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are "good fats," substances as important to your general health as vitamins. Based on evidence that essential fatty acids are necessary for the proper development of brain function in growing children, EFAs found in fish oil and evening primrose oil have been tried for the treatment of ADHD and related conditions. However, the results have been less than impressive. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 75 children with ADHD found that daily supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may reduce ADHD symptoms in some children. 37 However, in asimilarly designed study of 50 such children , use of essential fatty acids from fish oil and evening primrose oil failed to provide any consistent, significant benefit above and beyond the placebo effect. 29 (The placebo effect, incidentally , was considerable.) And, in a slightly smaller trial, weak evidence of benefit was seen, but the results are difficult to interpret due to the high number of people who dropped out. 3
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of children already using stimulant therapy, the addition of the essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, found in fish oil) for 4 months failed to further improve symptoms. 20
Evening primrose oil alone failed to prove effective for attention deficit disorder in a small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 21 In a placebo-controlled, comparative trial, evening primrose oil proved less effective than standard medical treatment. 22 However, a close look at the data in this last trial hinted that evening primrose oil might have been more effective in people with adequate zinc levels. 28 This suggests that combination therapy with zinc and evening primrose oil should be tested, but, thus far, this approach has not undergone meaningful study.
Other Natural Treatments
A small, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial evaluated the possible efficacy of the supplement carnitine for ADD in boys 13 and younger. 23 Approximately 50% of the participants responded to carnitine , a significantly higher percentage than responded to placebo. These promising results suggest that a larger trial is warranted.
A combination of American Ginseng and ginkgo has shown some promise for treatment of ADHD. 30
Vitamin B 3 (niacin), vitamin B 6 , and multivitamin/multimineral supplements have been recommended for the treatment of ADD. However, a review of the literature found no meaningful evidence to indicate that any of these treatments are effective. 4
One study is sometimes said to have proven magnesium helpful for ADD, 24 but, in fact, the study design was too inadequate to prove much of anything.
Other supplements that are sometimes recommended for ADD include calcium , iron , inositol , trace minerals, blue-green algae, combinations of amino acids (usually GABA, glycine, taurine , L-glutamine , L-phenylalanine , and L-tyrosine ), and combinations of the polysaccharides galactose, glucose, mannose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, fucose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, and xylose. St. John's wort has also become popular recently, but unlike depression, there is no convincing evidence for its effectiveness against ADD. 36 Note : St. John's Wort interacts with many medications and could conceivably impair the effectiveness of conventional treatments for ADD.
One study hints that massage might be helpful for ADD. 25
It is commonly said that, sugar, food allergens, and food additives, such as artificial colors, contribute to ADD symptoms. However, the body of published evidence regarding these therapies remains, incomplete and contradictory. 5-19,31,35 The best evidence regards artificial colors and food additives. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 153 without ADD, use of certain food additives significantly increased hyperactivity as compared to placebo. 35
A double-blind study reported in 2005 failed to find benefits for ADD with a treatment known as Bach flower remedies . 32
One study found that the supplement melatonin may be helpful for improving sleep in children with ADHD taking stimulant medications. 33 However, melatonin does not appear to be helpful for ADHD symptoms per se. 34
References
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Last reviewed February 2010 by EBSCO CAM Review Board
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