Login or Register

Tryptophan for ADHD

Apr 27, 2011 | By Amanda Lynch
Tryptophan for ADHD
Photo Credit turkey image by Diane Stamatelatos from Fotolia.com

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that as of 2007, 5.4 million children between the ages of 4 and 17 had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. The CDC further reports that about 63 percent of the children diagnosed with ADHD were taking medication. This condition is an important topic for today's parents, many of whom have concerns about stimulant-based therapies. Other treatments, including tryptophan, are currently being studied.

ADHD Causes

Parents whose children have been diagnosed with ADHD may feel a sense of guilt. The reality, however, is that most research indicates that environmental factors like food choices and discipline play a very small part in the likelihood of ADHD diagnosis. ADHD is primarily thought to be a result of genetic inheritance, meaning that if you or your spouse's family have a history of ADHD, it is more likely that your child will be diagnosed with the disorder.

Brain scans show noticeable differences between the brains of people who do and do not have ADHD. Specifically, the areas of the brain thought to be responsible for inhibition or self-control and attention demonstrate less overall neural activity in people who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Traditional Treatment Protocol for ADHD

Traditionally, most children diagnosed with ADHD undergo a treatment regimen of stimulant medications and behavioral therapy combined with some accommodations at school. It may seem counter-intuitive to prescribe stimulants for children with a tendency toward hyperactivity. Rather than make them more active, however, stimulants actually allow people with ADHD to focus and control their impulsivity. This is thought to be a result of the differences in brain function in people with and without ADHD.

People respond differently to varied stimulant regimens. Some people are prescribed long-acting or extended-release stimulants that they need to take just once per day. Others respond better to short-acting stimulants taken more frequently. Still others opt for stimulants delivered through a transdermal patch worn on the skin and removed each day. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, work with your health care provider to find the best treatment regimen for him.

Stimulant medications can have side effects like a decreased appetite, headaches, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and general irritability. Most side effects go away after a few weeks. Some children have heart problems and must take alternative medications.

ADHD and Sleep Disorders

Several studies have shown a correlation between ADHD diagnosis and sleep disorders. Valerie Sung, M.B.B.S. from the Centre for Community Child Health in Parkville, Australia published results of one such study in the April 2008 issue of "Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine." In Sung's study, she found that 73.3 percent of the 239 schoolchildren with ADHD she worked with also suffered from a sleep disorder, with a full 44.8 percent suffering from moderate to severely impaired sleep as a result.

A study conducted by Susan Shur-Fen Gau, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor at the College of Medicine and Public Health at National Taiwan University showed that, regardless of whether their symptoms persisted, adolescents who were diagnosed with ADHD as children were more likely to suffer from sleep disorders.

Both researchers commented on how lack of sleep can impact ADHD symptoms, worsening or even creating them in some children.

ADHD and Tryptophan

Increasingly, there has also been research exploring the possibility that people with ADHD tend to metabolize the "feel-good" hormone serotonin differently than those who do not have the disorder. A 1990 study published in the "American Journal of Medicine and Genetics" found that children diagnosed with ADHD tend to have lower blood levels of both serotonin and the amino acid tryptophan.

Kathi J Kemper, MD, MPH from the Center for Integrative Medicine spoke on the natural management of ADHD. In her talk, she suggests that the connection between sleep disorders and disturbances and ADHD symptoms is very real, and should be addressed by both patients with ADHD and the healthcare professionals managing their treatment. As a first line of defense, she suggests that if your child has ADHD, you should work with them to establish a predictable, calming nighttime routine. You should also limit stimulants and exercise after 4pm, although you should encourage your child to get more exercise throughout the day. If these steps do not seem to help with your child's sleep, she suggests that you speak with your healthcare provider about giving your child a dose of a sleep-inducing supplement like valerian root, melatonin or tryptophan. (ref. 5)

L-tryptophan is also commonly prescribed for conditions such as anxiety and depression and along with lithium for bipolar disorder. Since these are common ADHD co-morbidities, you may have considered or used tryptophan for ADHD in the past. Do speak with your health professional before using tryptophan, even if your child has taken it in the past.

Essentially, there has been some evidence that tryptophan can help people with ADHD to overcome any sleep disorders or disturbances, resulting in overall fewer or less profound ADHD symptoms. But, there is no evidence to suggest that using tryptophan for an overall calmer feeling will have any impact on symptoms of ADHD.

References

Article reviewed by Libby Swope Wiersema Last updated on: Apr 27, 2011

Must see: Photo Galleries