ADHD is one of the most frequently diagnosed childhood psychiatric conditions.
While there are many theories regarding the cause of ADHD, we now know that
many of the children diagnosed today, have a biological parent who shares the
same diagnosis. Other factors that may contribute to the symptoms of ADHD are
fetal alcohol syndrome, lead poisoning, meningitis, and a genetic resistance
to thyroid hormone. A deficiency in essential fatty acids (EFAs) is also being
singled out by some as a cause of or contributor to ADHD. EFAs influence ADHD
primarily in two ways: they influence gut permeability and absorption and they
are needed for the proper development of brain tissue.
Omega-3 refers to a group or "family" of EFAs. The first fatty acid
in this group is named alpha linolenic acid or just linolenic acid, and sometimes
it is just called omega-3. Linolenic acid cannot be made in the body and therefore,
it is classified as an essential fatty acid and must be obtained from either
the diet or in supplement form. The other two fatty acids in the omega-3 family
are named eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Most of
the time the body can manufacture EPA and DHA by conversions from linolenic
acid however, EPA and DHA are readily available in Fish Oil Supplements.
A new study evaluated the diets of eleven ADHD adolescents and twelve ADHD free
adolescents to determine if there was a correlation between fatty acid intake
and ADHD. The study revealed that teens with ADHD eat higher amounts of fats
than their non-ADHD peers and that both groups consume equal amounts of omega-3
and omega-6 fatty acids. However, the teens with ADHD showed lower levels of
DHA and total omega-3 fatty acids, higher levels of omega-6 and lower ratios
of omega-3 to omega-6 in comparison to the control participants. It appears
that the irregularities in fatty acid levels in adolescents with ADHD are not
due to consumption differences, but that teens with ADHD metabolize fatty acids
differently than their non-ADHD peers. The study is published in the February
2008 issue of Nutrition Journal
Patients on statin drugs require Coenzyme Q10 supplementation
High cholesterol runs in some families, and people in these families have high
bad cholesterol even if they exercise, are thin, and eat the best diet. If not
treated they wind up with crust in the arteries inside their hearts and often
die at an early age from a heart attack. Doctors appropriately place these patients
on statin drugs to protect their hearts by lowering their bad cholesterol.
In this new study these individuals were placed on generic Lipitor; the most
researched statin drug. The statin lowered their cholesterol significantly but
it also lowered their CoQ10 quickly and by 26.1% within a short period of time
(note; this could at least partially explain why individuals on a statin drug
frequently feel less energetic and possibly why their muscles ache). The study
is published in the October 24th, 2007 issue of the journal Clinical Pharmacology
and Therapeutics.
In this unrelated study all patients with high cholesterol were placed on generic
Lipitor (atorvastatin) at 10mg a day. They were also given either 100mg of Coenzyme
Q10 or inactive placebo daily along with their drug for 16 weeks. In the patients
on placebo the level of Coenzyme Q10 in their blood dropped by a whopping 42%
but in those supplemented with Coenzyme Q10 the level actually improved. This
study is published in the December 2007 issue of the journal Atherosclerosis.
