Hyperactivity is a component of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and kids with the disorder often display symptoms of inattention and impulsivity. Because these symptoms can interfere with a child's daily life, parents often seek treatment. Many parents are reluctant to use pharmaceuticals to treat hyperactivity, preferring more natural methods. Research shows promise for the use of several supplements to help manage ADHD, but your physician should always be consulted before adding any supplements to your regimen.
Magnesium and Vitamin B6
A 1997 Polish study examined the magnesium levels of children diagnosed with ADHD and found deficiency in 95 percent. Supplementation of 200 mg per day resulted in a significant decrease in hyperactivity. Magnesium decreases irritability and has a calming effect.
Vitamin B6 is necessary for the production and use of some important brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. One study from the journal "Biological Psychiatry" found that B6 was slightly more capable of improving hyperactivity than Ritalin. A study from Saint Joseph Hospital in Pennsylvania noted low serotonin levels in hyperactive children. Those given B6 showed an increase in serotonin levels.
The two supplements work in tandem, as B6 helps usher the magnesium into the cells. A 2006 study published in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" looked at children given a combination of both vitamin B6 and magnesium. While a number of negative ADHD behaviors were lessened with this treatment, the greatest improvements were seen in the area of hyperactivity. When supplementation was withdrawn, the symptoms returned to previous levels.
Zinc
Zinc influences several components that can affect behavior, including fatty acids and certain brain chemicals such as melatonin. A 1996 study from "Biological Psychiatry" showed significantly lower zinc levels in children with ADHD than those without the disorder. At the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's 2009 meeting, a Canadian study led by Dr. Margaret Weiss was presented, showing a zinc deficiency averaging 45 percent in the ADHD children studied.
However, at the same meeting, Dr. Eugene Arnold from Ohio State University presented his team's discovery that zinc supplementation did not improve ADHD symptoms after 13 weeks. Weiss theorized, "It may not just be a question of what children eat but also whether they can absorb or metabolize zinc, or whether they are excreting it. In other words, is there some kind of phenomenon of zinc wasting?"
Yet another study from 2004 published in "Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry" indicates that zinc supplementation can indeed improve symptoms of ADHD. One possible reason that this study showed changes is that more zinc was given to the children in this study than in the study showing no positive outcomes. Interestingly, levels of free fatty acids were also raised in the children supplemented with zinc, while no rise was observed in the subjects given placebos.
Essential Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are a constituent of all brain cells, the blood-brain barrier and the myelin sheath that covers nerves. A 1994 study from Purdue University found that boys with ADHD had diminished levels of the essential fatty acid DHA. A 2002 pilot study from Oxford found positive results with fatty acid supplementation. A 2005 study published in "Pediatrics" showed notable improvements in reading, spelling, and behavior in children who given omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Omega-3 oils are contained in fish and krill oil supplements. Omega-6 oils include evening primrose, borage and black currant seed oils. Some supplements contain both omega-3 and omega-6 oils.
