Originally, the term attention deficit disorder (ADD) referred to children
who seemed incapable of concentrating at school. Today, however, the definition
has broadened to include many adults as well. Characteristics of ADD and the
related condition ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder) include
difficulty sustaining attention or completing tasks, easy distractibility,
impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity (excessive movement and an inability to
sit still). These problems make it difficult to succeed at work or at school.
Conventional treatment focuses on stimulants such as caffeine, Dexedrine, and
Ritalin. These drugs produce a paradoxically calming effect in people with ADD,
for reasons we don't understand. Certain antidepressants may also be useful.
Treatments
Proposed Treatments for Attention Deficit Disorder
DMAE
There is some evidence that the supplement DMAE may be helpful for ADD,
according to studies performed in the 1970s. Two such studies were reported in a
review article on DMAE. Fifty children aged 6 to 12 years who had been diagnosed
with hyperkinesia (their diagnosis today would likely be ADD) participated in a
double-blind study comparing DMAE to placebo. The dose was increased from 300 mg
daily to 500 mg daily by the third week, and continued for 10 weeks. Evaluations
revealed statistically significant test score improvements in the treatment
group compared to the placebo group.
Another double-blind study compared DMAE with both methylphenidate (Ritalin) and
placebo in 74 children with "learning disabilities" (also probably what we would
call ADD today). It found significant test score improvement for both treatment
groups over a 10-week period. Positive results were also seen in a small open
study.
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full DMAE
article.
Essential Fatty Acids
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are "good fats," substances as important to your
general health as vitamins. Based on evidence that essential fatty acids are
necessary for the proper development of brain function in growing children, EFAs
have been tried for the treatment of ADHD and related conditions. A preliminary
double-blind placebo-controlled trial found some evidence that a supplement
containing fish oil and evening primrose oil might improve ADHD symptoms.
However, in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of children already using
stimulant therapy, the addition of the essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA) for 4 months failed to further improve symptoms.
Evening primrose oil by itself failed to prove effective for attention deficit
disorder in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. In another small
placebo-controlled comparative trial, evening primrose oil proved less effective
than standard medical treatment.
Other Natural Treatments
Two authors sympathetic to natural medicine reviewed all the literature in print
on a few other widely recommended options for ADD: supplementation with niacin
(or vitamin B3), vitamin B6, and multivitamin and mineral tablets. They failed
to find any evidence of a positive effect.
Other supplements that are sometimes recommended for ADD include calcium, zinc,
magnesium, iron, inositol, trace minerals, blue-green algae, combinations of
amino acids (usually GABA, glycine, taurine, L-glutamine, L-phenylalanine, and
L-tyrosine), and combinations of the polysaccharides (galactose, glucose,
mannose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, fucose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine,
and xylose). St. John's wort is also sometimes recommended. However, there is
little to no evidence for any of these treatments at this time.
Whether dietary modifications (such as eliminating sugar, food additives, and
food allergens) can help remains unclear and controversial.