ascorbic-acid and Attention-Deficit-Disorder-with-Hyperactivity

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder among children and adults. Impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity are hallmark of ADHD. While ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, they are related in several ways as they have some overlapping symptoms. The pathogenesis of ADHD has so far remained enigmatic, however, there is some evidence suggesting critical association among ADHD and the level of oxidative stress which trigger cell membrane damage, changes in inner structure and function of proteins, as well as structural damage to DNA which eventually culminate into development of ADHD. Although stimulants as well as some classes of non-stimulants are used to ameliorate symptom of ADHD, various adverse effects have been associated with such compounds. To date, treatment of ADHD is done with a combination of medications, behavior modifications, psycho-education, family therapy and life-style changes. The American Academy of Pediatrics officially promote stimulant medications and/or behavior therapy as 'first line of therapy'. In addition to the presently therapeutic armamentarium, evidences are emerging on relevancy of natural products. There has been an interest on the therapeutic role of antioxidants in the treatment of ADHD. The present review aims to highlight the beneficiary role played by different antioxidants in mitigating the symptoms of ADHD.

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Biological Products; Child; Glutathione; Humans; Oxidative Stress; Risk Factors

Considerable clinical and experimental evidence now supports the idea that deficiencies or imbalances in certain highly unsaturated fatty acids may contribute to a range of common developmental disorders including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Few intervention studies with LCPUFA supplementation have reported inconsistent and marginal results. This pilot study evaluates the effect of alpha linolenic acid (ALA)-rich nutritional supplementation in the form of flax oil and antioxidant emulsion on blood fatty acids composition and behavior in children with ADHD. Post-supplementation levels of RBC membrane fatty acids were significantly higher than pretreatment levels as well as the levels in control. There was significant improvement in the symptoms of ADHD reflected by reduction in total hyperactivity scores of ADHD children derived from ADHD rating scale.

Topics: alpha-Linolenic Acid; Ascorbic Acid; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Dietary Supplements; Drug Therapy, Combination; Erythrocytes; Fatty Acids, Essential; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Humans; Linseed Oil; Male; Pilot Projects; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Treatment Outcome; Vitamins

The effectiveness of a megavitamin regimen utilizing a two-stage trial in 41 subjects with attention deficit disorders was studied. Stage 1 was a 3-month clinical trial of vitamins (daily maximum: 3 g of niacinamide and ascorbic acid, 1.2 g of calcium pantothenate, and 0.6 g of pyridoxine). State 2 consisted of four, 6-week, double-blind repeated crossover periods. Twenty-nine per cent of the subjects showed significant behavior improvement during stage 1, and these subjects were used in the double-blind crossover phase of the study to evaluate megavitamin therapy. Using analysis of variance methods for crossover studies, there was no significant difference (P greater than .05) in most behavior scores between children receiving vitamin and those receiving placebo during stage 2. Children exhibited 25% more disruptive classroom behavior when treated with vitamins v placebo (P less than .01). There was no significant difference in serum pyridoxine and ascorbic acid levels between subjects and control subjects. Forty-two per cent of subjects exceeded the upper limits of serum transaminase levels while receiving vitamins. It is concluded that megavitamins are ineffective in the management of attention deficit disorders and should not be utilized because of their potential hepatotoxicity.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Ascorbic Acid; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Niacinamide; Orthomolecular Therapy; Pantothenic Acid; Pyridoxine; Random Allocation; Time Factors; Transaminases

Preliminary to a stimulant comparison study, 31 children with minimal brain dysfunction randomly received either placebo or a megavitamin combination. During a two-week trial, only two children responded so well that stiumlants were not considered necessary; both were in the placebo group. Change scores from pretest to posttest on four blind ratings by teachers and parents did not show a significant difference between the placebo and vitamin groups.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Female; Glutamates; Humans; Hyperkinesis; Learning Disabilities; Male; Nicotinic Acids; Orthomolecular Therapy; Pantothenic Acid; Pyridoxine

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Diet; Humans; Respiratory Tract Infections; Salicylates

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Birth Weight; Child; Dietary Proteins; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Intelligence; Intelligence Tests; Learning Disabilities; Male; Perceptual Disorders; Psychological Tests; Tyrosine