Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is one of the more common neurobehavioral disorders affecting children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of ADHD is the United States is steadily increasing. Prescription medication is used to help reduce ADHD symptoms; however, a number of other treatments, including L-acetylcarnitine, also might be effective in treating ADHD.
L-Acetylcarnitine
L-acetylcarnitine, also known as carnitine, is a nutrient produced naturally by the human body. Most individuals have enough carnitine because the body produces as much as it needs. However, some people are deficient in the amino acid. Other times, illness or medication can cause lower levels of carnitine to be produced in the body. Carnitine supplements have been proposed as a possible treatment for a number of conditions, including ADHD. The most well researched use of carnitine is in the treatment of angina. Along with conventional medication, carnitine can help patients with angina exercise without chest pain.
L-Acetylcarnitine and ADHD
Although research about treating ADHD with carnitine is limited, early studies suggest that carnitine can improve some of the behavior associated with ADHD. In a 2008 study published in the "American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A," carnitine was found to significantly reduce ADHD behaviors in boys over a 12-month period. However, the study looked specifically at boys with a certain condition known as fragile X syndrome. Boys with fragile X syndrome are much more likely to develop ADHD than their counterparts. Another smaller study, published in "Prostaglandins, Leukotrines and Essential Fatty Acids," also found that boys with ADHD who were treated with carnitine had significantly fewer attention and aggression problems.
Dosage
Carnitine is found in certain foods such as meat, fish, poultry and milk. Carnitine can also be purchased as a supplement in most health food stores. Because carnitine is not an approved treatment for ADHD, no recommended dosage guidelines exist. The usual dose is 1 to 3 g of carnitine per day, however. In the 2008 study using carnitine to treat ADHD, the participants received 500 mg of the supplement twice a day. Talk to your physician before taking carnitine, and ask about an appropriate dosage.
Precautions
At high doses of over 5 g a day, carnitine can have some side effects, including nausea, rash, vomiting and diarrhea. Rare but more serious side effects include seizures and muscle weakness. But such side effects were noted in patients who already had problems with seizures or muscle weakness. Carnitine can interact with certain medications and other supplements. Talk to your doctor if you are being treated for hypertension, liver disease, diabetes, kidney disease or peripheral vascular disease before taking carnitine.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Rate of Parent-Reported ADHD Increasing
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Carnitine (L-Carnitine)
- MedPage Today; L-Acetylcarnitine Found Effective Against ADHD in Fragile X; Michael Smith; February 2008
- "Prostaglandins, Leukotrines and Essential Fatty Acids"; Efficacy of Carnitine in the Treatment of Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; L.J. Van Oudheusden and H.R. Scholte; July 2002
- Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health: Carnitine
