Mental Health
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February 11, 2022

6 Common Nutrient Deficiencies Linked to ADHD

Medically Reviewed by
Updated On
September 17, 2024

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 can effectively reduce symptoms of ADHD, including nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, lifestyle, prescriptions, psychotherapy, and more.

In this article, we’ll review common root causes of ADHD and functional medicine approaches used to treat it.

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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 treat ADHD and get back to living the best, most focused, and centered life. Let’s review them!

Possible Causes of ADHD

Below are some common possible causes:

Nutrient Deficiencies

People with ADHD have higher chances of being nutrient deficient than the average person.

Iron

People with ADHD are twice as likely to suffer iron-deficiency anemia compared to members of the general population.

Vitamin D

78.4% of children with ADHD are 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 showed a considerable reduction in symptoms of attention deficit, emotional problems, hyperactivity, and impulsivity assessed by SNAP-IV.

Hormone Imbalances

Estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone hormone imbalances can worsen symptoms of concentration, impulsivity, and inattention in ADHD patients

In one study, boys with ADHD were far more likely 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 can interfere with neural signaling and worsen attention symptoms. Lead has been extensively researched in ADHD and can impact young children’s neural development even at low levels.

Food Allergies and Sensitivities

Since the 1970s, parents and practitioners have found 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 improve symptoms of ADHD.

Functional Medicine Labs to Find the Root Causes of ADHD

The following tests are beneficial for uncovering the root causes of 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 Treatment for ADHD

Treatments for ADHD should be individualized to the root cause.

Nutrient deficiencies should be addressed with a food-as-medicine approach and supplements to increase deficiencies. A whole-food low inflammatory diet is commonly prescribed.

Hormone treatments should focus on eliminating the barriers to normal hormone production using a combination of lifestyle changes, nutrient therapy, herbs, and even pharmaceuticals.

A guided elimination diet addresses food allergies and sensitivities. These are usually done for a period of 30 - 90 days, and then foods are slowly reintroduced one by one.

[signup]

Summary

There are many root causes of ADHD. These include nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, food allergies and sensitivities, and heavy metals. Functional Medicine can effectively reduce symptoms of ADHD by utilizing a root cause approach.

Special thanks to our naturopathic assistant, Lindsey Bevilacqua, for her help with this article.

Articles That May Interest You

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.

[signup]

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.

[signup]

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.

Articles That May Interest You

The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

Learn more

Lab Tests in This Article

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The Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO)
Peer Reviewed Journal
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Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI)
Peer Reviewed Journal
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Circulation
Peer Reviewed Journal
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JAMA Internal Medicine
Peer Reviewed Journal
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PLOS Medicine
Peer Reviewed Journal
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Annals of Internal Medicine
Peer Reviewed Journal
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Nature Medicine
Peer Reviewed Journal
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The BMJ (British Medical Journal)
Peer Reviewed Journal
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The Lancet
Peer Reviewed Journal
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Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
Peer Reviewed Journal
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Pubmed
Comprehensive biomedical database
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Harvard
Educational/Medical Institution
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational/Medical Institution
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Mayo Clinic
Educational/Medical Institution
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The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)
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Johns Hopkins
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Hey practitioners! 👋 Join Dr. Chris Magryta and Dr. Erik Lundquist for a comprehensive 6-week course on evaluating functional medicine labs from two perspectives: adult and pediatric. In this course, you’ll explore the convergence of lab results across different diseases and age groups, understanding how human lab values vary on a continuum influenced by age, genetics, and time. Register Here! Register Here.

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