Here's a very interesting study – the first to connect children's iron levels and ADHD (http://www.drgreene.com/21_1021.html). In Paris, France, 110 children from the same school district were referred to a university hospital between March 2002 and June 2003 to be evaluated for school-related problems. Fifty-three of these children met the criteria for a definite diagnosis of ADHD (http://www.drgreene.com/21_569.html). Researchers analyzed blood samples from these children and from 27 of the other children who did not turn out to have ADHD (http://www.drgreene.com/54_32.html). The stunning results were reported in the December 2004 Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. At their lab, a normal serum ferritin (iron) level is greater than 30 ng/ml. The average level in the non-ADHD kids was normal at 44 ng/ml. But the average serum ferritin in the children with ADHD (http://www.drgreene.com/21_569.html) was about 22 ng/ml – about half that of the other children! Fully 84 percent of the children with ADHD were iron deficient with ferritin levels less than 30 ng/ml. More strikingly, the lower the serum ferritin was in this study, the worse the ADHD (http://www.drgreene.com/54_32.html) symptoms – worse hyperactivity (http://www.drgreene.com/21_4.html), worse oppositional behavior, and worse cognitive scores. But none of the children had anemia (http://www.drgreene.com/21_1025.html) from their iron deficiency (http://www.drgreene.com/21_486.html). They all tested normal (http://www.drgreene.com/21_1018.html) on the hemoglobin or hematocrit blood tests used in doctors' (http://www.drgreene.com/21_120.html) offices to screen for iron problems! But, when other researchers gave appropriate iron supplements (http://www.drgreene.com/21_558.html) to children with ADHD (http://www.drgreene.com/21_1735.html), their test scores and ADHD symptoms improved.

This all makes some sense. Increasing evidence links ADHD to inadequate function of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Medicines that stimulate dopamine activity improve ADHD (http://www.drgreene.com/21_1784.html) symptoms. Adequate iron (http://www.drgreene.com/54_14.html) is needed by the body both for making dopamine and for the proper functioning of dopamine receptors. Beyond this, there is ample solid evidence showing that low iron (http://www.drgreene.com/21_1128.html) levels in children cause learning and behavior problems (http://www.drgreene.com/21_486.html), especially if the low levels (http://www.drgreene.com/21_1025.html) are present during key windows of development. We also know that restless leg syndrome is often connected to iron deficiency (http://www.drgreene.com/21_121.html). Therefore, even though this pioneer study linking low iron levels (http://www.drgreene.com/21_65.html) with ADHD is small and has yet to be repeated in other children, there are good reasons to take it seriously. Even though the answers are not all in, if I had a child with ADHD, I would consider obtaining a serum ferritin test, consider whether his or her diet (http://www.drgreene.com/54_14.html) would supply ample iron (http://www.drgreene.com/21_130.html), and consider supplementing (http://www.drgreene.com/21_558.html) with an appropriate amount of iron. Having normal iron stores is unlikely to hurt a child, and could offer a significant benefit.

Source: http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=1864

by the way, I disagree with this study as I take a Centrum Active everyday, which gives me 100% of my needed iron. Sometimes weird is that people deficient in iron have cravings for Licquorice. I always want that stuff...weird.

I looked up this Dr. Greene and he is one of those people who believe all of our problems are due to toxins or improper diets. I general avoid people who have unbalanced opinions in either direction because ADD whacks my life out enough I see no need to add more imbalances.

More of Dr, Greene's endeavors, (http://www.drgreene.com/122.html) I think they pretty well speak for them selves.

I am not saying symptoms of ADD can't be made worse or improved by the environment I am one who believes ADD is a contextual disorder, I am also all for environmental reforms however I refuse to get my political views and my medical ones confused and I believe this is what Dr. Greene the author of this article has done in my opinion.

You did very will in using logic to come to a reasonable conclusion. Stating you take an iron supplement and you still have ADD. Lets go a bit further with this line of thinking.

Ok if ADD was caused by an iron deficiency then why would stimulants be so successful? It seem like the stimulants which effect many people's appetite especially when they first begin taking them would also decrease the amount of iron ingested. Therefore if ADD were really linked to iron deficiency then stimulant medication would make the symptoms worse not better. Besides even if the ADD medications do not decrease one appetite they sure do not contain iron but yet they help ADD symptoms.

With research I first do what you did and look at it logically and see if it make sense then I research the researcher. . . .

I have never tested low on iron in my life and I've given lots of blood.

My ADHD son showed high levels of iron on a blood test and his doctor was concerned that he had a disease of iron overload - the Celtic disease - I've forgotten the name for it.

Perhaps the significance is related to environment or genetics rather than ADHD?

My ADHD son showed high levels of iron on a blood test and his doctor was concerned that he had a disease of iron overload - the Celtic disease - I've forgotten the name for it.


hemochromatosis?

I have tested low for iron before, even while taking my daily multivitamins. Never really paid attention to diet in relation to the ups and downs of add in my life until very recently so I don't know if it has affected my add or not.

Does low iron cause adhd, or does adhd cause low iron, or does something else contribute to both adhd and low iron? Is one the side effect of the other or are they both a side effect of a third disorder? It is entirely possible that there is a connection between adhd and low iron as seen in these small studies, but it is not necessarily a direct 1:1 connection. The research is on to something for sure, but I don't believe that "something" is known yet.

It is possible to have too much iron and it can be detrimental to both adults and children. However, normal diets and normal supplementation are not likely to cause such an overabundance of iron in the system as to cause a problem.

iron does not work for ADD period, to bad mr green

Hrere's the abstract. If there's someone with access to the full text they could check out the detail. http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/158/12/1113

Look at the primary research, peer reviewedI would imagine. Basic science so unlikely to be too far out. The fact that the (single) study indicated that there was statistical correlation between low blood iron levels and ADHD SYMPTOMS...not the capitalisation of SYMPTOMS does not mean that ingesting iron will help ADHD or that low iron is a definitive test for Adhd.

Bear in mind that tests and anecdotal evidence from UK studies into childhood behaviour patterns indicated a reduction in hyperactivity and an increase in concentration when diet was improved and "junk" food and drink consumption was reduced.

The problem here is not the science but the difficulty in diagnosing genetically induced ADHD definatively in children.

It may be that what we now call ADHD/ADD is caused by low dopamine levels but those low levels could be a result of a number of factors, some genetic, some environmental which will ultimately be separated into a number of unique medical conditions.

Our understanding of the brain and its chemistry is currently at such an elemental level that we cannot assume that what presents and is described as one disorder will not be ultimately identified as the outward manifestations of a number of distinct and utterly separate disorders once our knowledge of the brain increases.

It is possible to have too much iron and it can be detrimental to both adults and children. However, normal diets and normal supplementation are not likely to cause such an overabundance of iron in the system as to cause a problem.Thanks, Meadd823. Hemochromatosis, also referred to as the Celtic Curse, by some. It's been awhile, but if memory serves, it takes decades for the iron overload to show up. Diet and lifestyle are probably important, but women don't test postive for iron overload until they stop menstruating. Why? Because "bleeding" is the cure. I seem to remember that at first the blood from a person with hemochromatosis can not be used for donation because of the high iron levels. Once they are lower, men and menopausal women are encouraged to donate blood regularly to keep iron levels down.

Here is a link for the Canadian hemochromatosis society:
http://www.cdnhemochromatosis.ca/disorder/what_is.php

According to this society, hemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder affecting Canadians, yet I had never heard of it until a few years ago.

My son's follow up blood tests did not show any iron overload so we are hoping it was just a glitch, regardless of heritage.

I've never had a problem with iron. When I was first diagnosed with adhd, blood chemistry was the first thing the doctors started looking at. Doctors like to look at blood chemistry right off when diagnosing patients to be sure things are right.

Doctors love to look at blood chemistry and like to order blood tests for about everything. If there were a link between iron and ADHD it would have turned up years ago.

If you have adhd you can take vitamin suppliments all you like and you will still have adhd.

Good nutrition is important, good nutrition is a good thing to have, but ADHD is not a nutrition problem.

Me :D

There are a few different tests to determine iron/ferretin levels - not all are equal. Most vitamins - unless prescribed do not contain iron, as in the US it is prescription (too much iron can be deadly). Iron is not easily absorbed by the body - just as calcium is not easily absorbed. Blood chemistry tests do not test for iron - they are ordered separately. To my knowledge, unless you have symptoms of anemia, iron studies are not likely to be ordered. I do not know if there is a correllation between iron and ADD - but it is not so far fetched that it couldn't be possible. However, if it Were the cause - I would think that by now, it would have been discovered and supplementation would be widespread.

Just my two cents,

At Heart

Blood chemistry tests do not test for iron - they are ordered separately. To my knowledge, unless you have symptoms of anemia, iron studies are not likely to be ordered.Wll, I guess our doctor doesn't know that. :D He ordered blood work for my son and myself because we have been taking Ritalin for several years. Someone with high levels of iron would not show signs of anemia. Perhaps our doctor ordered specific blood tests to check for iron overload because hemochromatosis is the most common genetic defect affecting Canadians? He's a very good doctor.

There is one very important thing to remember about "studies" like this. Correlation does not imply Causation. Just because you find a trend does not mean you've found a cause. :)