|
Have you ever struggles with paying attention or staying focused on a particular task? My wife often tells me I have an attention deficit when working in the yard. She says that I start working on a project, and the next thing you know, I’m working on something different. I claim that the newfound task was crucial to the first task that I started, not sure if that’s a good argument, but I am sticking with it. I did catch her doing the same thing this last summer. She just smiled and knew she was busted.
The story is kind of funny, but for many, attention deficit can be pretty debilitating.
For young children, it can be highly frustrating to deal with in the confines of a classroom. It is a well-established fact that attention disorders in children are on the rise. What is less well established is how best to approach treatment.
Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood, estimated to affect between 3% and 5% of school-aged children.
The core symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Although many people occasionally have difficulty sitting still, paying attention, or controlling impulsive behavior, these behaviors are so persistent in people with ADHD that they interfere with daily life. Symptoms generally appear before the age of 7 and cause significant functional problems at home, in school, and various social settings. One- to two-thirds of all children with ADHD (somewhere between 1% and 6% of the general population) continue to exhibit ADHD symptoms into adult life.
Numerous factors such as diet, allergies, toxicities, genetics, environment, brain chemistry, and other factors have been shown to play a role. As a result, treatment options vary greatly. A non-traditional approach would include looking at a person’s diet and incorporating dietary supplements and would address things such as nutritional deficiencies rather than treating the behavior.
Often an unhealthy diet lacking nutrients and may contain allergens which can be a source of the problem. A modified elimination diet eliminates the most allergenic foods from our diet, including; sugar, wheat, eggs, dairy, soy, and corn. Most patients see a marked improvement within 3 to 4 weeks of implementing the diet if food is an issue. I realize that this can be a significant overhaul for many and maybe not even possible, but it is an option.
When looking at dietary supplements, I like to start foundationally, with healthy fats, especially the brain healthy omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. It only makes sense, especially considering the brain is approximately 60 percent fat. Deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to a number of developmental and learning problems, including ADHD. This has led researchers to investigate whether supplementing with healthy lipids might help some of these problems.
Magnesium is an often overlooked nutrient in children. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include irritability, decreased attention span, and mental confusion. Mild magnesium deficiency is not uncommon in normally nourished children, and some experts believe that children with ADHD may be exhibiting the effects of mild magnesium deficiency.
In one study of 116 children with ADHD, 95% were magnesium deficient. In a separate study, 75 magnesium-deficient children with ADHD were randomly assigned to receive magnesium supplements in addition to standard treatment or standard treatment alone for six months. Those who received magnesium demonstrated a significant improvement in behavior, whereas the control group exhibited worsening behavior.
Adequate levels of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) are required for normal brain development and are essential for synthesizing essential brain chemicals, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. A preliminary study found that pyridoxine was slightly more effective than methylphenidate (the most commonly used stimulant) in improving behavior among hyperactive children.
Zinc regulates the activity of neurotransmitters, fatty acids, and melatonin, all of which are related to the biology of behavior. Two separate studies found that children with ADHD have significantly lower blood zinc levels than children without ADHD. Another study indicated that ADHD children with mild zinc deficiency might be less likely to improve from a commonly prescribed stimulant than children with adequate zinc levels.
Taking a good multivitamin is always helpful to fill in the gaps created by our diet. Still, it can also provide necessary B6 and zinc if a deficiency in one of those leads to attention issues.
Although melatonin supplementation probably has no direct effect on the primary symptoms of ADHD, it may be effective in managing sleep cycle disturbances in children with a variety of developmental disorders, including ADHD.
If you are currently taking medications, the above recommendations are options that can be used in conjunction with the current medical care you are receiving from your practitioner. They are non-toxic options that can easily be implemented with your current treatment protocol.
Please stop in or call the pharmacy if you would like further information on ways to help with attention disorders naturally. Please visit my website at www.irsfeldpharmacy.com to find a link to an overview of the 7 Systems Plan. You can also view archived articles in the blog section. Until next time, be vigilant about your health!!
| 
