Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects up to 15% of children and 8% of adults each year. There are a variety of evidence-based, functional medicine approaches that may help manage symptoms of ADHD, including nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, lifestyle, prescriptions, psychotherapy, and more.
In this article, we’ll review common factors that may contribute to ADHD and functional medicine approaches used to support individuals with ADHD.
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Signs & Symptoms of ADHD
ADHD is defined by the National Institutes of Mental Health as “an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development [characterized by] the following types of symptoms:
- Inattention: difficulty staying on task, sustaining focus, and staying organized, and these problems are not due to defiance or lack of comprehension.
- Hyperactivity: moving about constantly, including in situations when it is not appropriate, or excessively fidgets, taps, or talks. In adults, hyperactivity may mean extreme restlessness or talking too much.
- Impulsivity: acting without thinking or difficulty with self-control. Impulsivity could also include a desire for immediate rewards or the inability to delay gratification. An impulsive person may interrupt others or make important decisions without considering long-term consequences.”
ADHD symptoms can significantly impact people’s lives, including relationships, job performance, and more. Not everyone with ADHD has the same symptoms. People who struggle with the inattentive symptoms of ADHD may have trouble with time management, deadlines, deep listening, attention to detail, and the ability to complete projects once they start them.
For others, the hyperactivity symptoms associated with ADHD can make it difficult for them to stay seated, can lead to interruptions in class or work situations, and can cause behavioral difficulties that create conflict with others.
The good news is - whatever the symptoms are - there are many ways to support individuals with ADHD in living a focused and centered life. Let’s review them!
Possible Factors Contributing to ADHD
Below are some common possible contributing factors:
Nutrient Deficiencies
People with ADHD may have higher chances of experiencing nutrient deficiencies than the average person.
Iron
People with ADHD are twice as likely to experience iron-deficiency anemia compared to members of the general population.
Vitamin D
78.4% of children with ADHD are found to be deficient in vitamin D compared to 48% of children without ADHD.
Omega 3, Omega 6, Magnesium, & Zinc
One study showed that 12 weeks of consumption of a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, magnesium, and zinc was associated with a reduction in symptoms of attention deficit, emotional problems, hyperactivity, and impulsivity assessed by SNAP-IV.
Hormone Imbalances
Estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone hormone imbalances may influence symptoms of concentration, impulsivity, and inattention in individuals with ADHD.
In one study, boys with ADHD were found to have higher sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels and lower DHEA levels than their peers.
Heavy Metals
Excessive blood levels of heavy metals like lead or mercury may interfere with neural signaling and influence attention symptoms. Lead has been extensively researched in ADHD and may impact young children’s neural development even at low levels.
Food Allergies and Sensitivities
Since the 1970s, parents and practitioners have observed that their pediatric patients with ADHD often experience an increase in symptoms after ingesting food ingredients like artificial food colorings (AFCs) and highly allergenic foods like milk, chocolate, soy, and wheat. Additionally, anti-inflammatory eating patterns like the DASH diet have been found to support individuals with ADHD.
Functional Medicine Labs to Explore Factors Contributing to ADHD
The following tests may be helpful for exploring factors contributing to ADHD:
Testing for Nutrient Deficiencies
Assessing nutrient deficiencies can be done in many ways, including at-home blood spot tests and serum blood levels. A CBC and CMP, which your doctor runs every year, can detect vitamin D and iron deficiencies.
Testing for Heavy Metals
The most common way to test for heavy metal levels is by checking hair, blood, and urine levels.
For further testing, a provocation challenge test can be done. This test requires you to take a small dose of a heavy metal chelator and then test how much you excrete into your urine.
Testing for Food Sensitivities
There are blood spot or blood draw collection kits that can be used to find food sensitivities.
One thing to be aware of is that the food needs to have been eaten in the last three days to make sure the body has produced enough immunoglobulins to identify a reaction.
Testing for Hormone Imbalances
Most functional medicine practitioners like to test hormone levels over an extended period of time. Hormones can be tested through urinalysis, saliva, and blood draws.
To order all of these tests for ADHD, you can use the ADHD test kit bundle found here.
Functional Medicine Approaches for Supporting Individuals with ADHD
Approaches for supporting individuals with ADHD should be individualized to the contributing factors.
Nutrient deficiencies may be addressed with a food-as-medicine approach and supplements to support nutrient levels. A whole-food low inflammatory diet is commonly suggested.
Hormone support may focus on addressing the barriers to normal hormone production using a combination of lifestyle changes, nutrient therapy, herbs, and even pharmaceuticals.
A guided elimination diet may help address food allergies and sensitivities. These are usually done for a period of 30 - 90 days, and then foods are slowly reintroduced one by one.
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Summary
There are many factors that may contribute to ADHD. These include nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, food allergies and sensitivities, and heavy metals. Functional Medicine may help manage symptoms of ADHD by utilizing a root cause approach.
Special thanks to our naturopathic assistant, Lindsey Bevilacqua, for her help with this article.
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