Zinc as Adjunct Therapy May Improve ADHD

TEHRAN, Iran--<$>Zinc supplementation may help improve attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children when administered alongside conventional stimulant treatment--such as methylphenidate (Ritalin)--according to researchers at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (BMC Psychiatry, 4:9, 2004) (www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpsychiatr). It is the first clinical trial to assess the effects of zinc alongside conventional medication, according to the researchers.

The study involved 44 children between the ages of 5 and 11 diagnosed with ADHD. The subjects received a combination of methylphenidate (1 mg/kg/d) and zinc sulfate (55 mg/d), or methylphenidate (1 mg/kg/d) and placebo for six weeks. ADHD symptoms were assessed at the start of the study and every two weeks after supplementation began.

ADHD symptoms and behavior improved in both treatment groups; however, ADHD symptoms and behavior improved significantly more in children taking zinc plus conventional medication compared to children taking conventional medication and placebo. Researchers did note, however, children taking zinc reported more side effects, including nausea and abdominal pain.