Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and micronutrities

Abstract

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a clinical behavioral disorder in children marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity in all situations, which occurs early and persists through time. The aim of the paper is to review the previous scientific studies in which the issue of association between the attention deficit and hyperactivity and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) was addressed, by examining the available literature. Numerous studies have correlated the diet, that is, nutritional deficits with the ADHD. Deficiency of fatty acids, as well as the lack of zinc and iron, were the most frequently observed. Some studies have reported a significant effect of precisely defined doses of vitamins D and B12, while others have determined the existence of a positive correlation between the severity of ADHD symptoms and the level of nutritional deficiency. Overall, the duction of appropriate nutritional and/ or supplementation regimens could be a good option for reducing the ADHD symptoms. As a practical contribution, all information on possible unwanted outcomes of micronutrient imbalance should be available to parents of children with ADHD and experts directly involved in working with these families. Larger studies are needed to determine the optimal multifactorial treatment that includes, in addition to medications and behavioral work, balanced nutrition with the necessary supplementation.

Poremećaj pažnje sa hiperaktivnošću (eng. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHD) je klinički poremećaj ponašanja kod dece kod koga se javlja nedostatak pažnje i/ili hiperaktivnost u svim situacijama, a koji se javlјa rano i perzistira kroz vreme. Cilј rada je da se uvidom u dostupnu literaturu, napravi pregled dosadašnjih naučnih radova u kojima je obrađivana problematika povezanosti deficita pažnje i hiperaktivnosti i mikronutrijenata: vitamina i minerala. Brojne studije dovele su u vezu ishranu, odnosno, nutricione deficite sa nastankom ADHD. Najčešće su uočeni deficiti masnih kiselina, kao i nedostatak cinka i gvožđa. Neke studije su izvestile o značajnom učinku precizno određenih doza vitamin D i B12, dok su druge utvrdile postojanje pozitivne korelacije između jačine ADHD simptoma i nivoa nutritivnog deficita. Sveukupno, uvođenje odgovarajućih režima ishrane i/ili suplementacije bi mogla biti dobra opcija za smanjenje simptoma ADHD. Kao praktični doprinos, potrebno je da sve informacije o mogućim neželјenim ishodima disbalansa mikronutrijenata budu dostupne roditelјima dece sa ADHD i stručnjacima neposredno uklјučenim u rad sa ovim porodicama. Potrebne su veće studije za određivanje optimalnog multifaktorskog tretmana koji uklјučuje, pored lekova i bihevioralnog rada, izbalansiranu ishranu sa potrebnom suplementacijom.