ADD/ADHD

Dear Dr. Meletis,

I have a son who is 5 years old and his kindergarten teacher has completed a 30-day assessment on him. The recommendations are for him to see the doctor…ADD/ADHD. However, I was reading about amino acids for this condition, but I don’t know exactly which ones and dosage to be able to try for him. How do I find out exactly which vitamins/supplements and dosage to give to him? My sister-in-law did this with her sons and she swears on it that it worked for her two boys. I am not a believer on administering drugs to children where there are even the slightest chance of side effects. Thank you for your time.

Ms. S.

Dear Ms. S.,

Generally, with patients with ADD/ADHD I follow this initial approach and refine it as needed. The first thing that I do is test for and avoid all food sensitivities, “hidden food allergies.” Avoiding triggers to the immune system that can impact behavior and attention is an essential foundational step. A Food Allergy Test is available here. From a supplemental perspective I routinely start my patients with Zinc 25 mg with meals, essential fatty acids 2,000-3,000 mg of EPA/DHA (peach-flavored Arctic Cod Liver Oil) and also a good multi-vitamin such as Kid’s Essentials. As the second phase, in addition to the aforementioned items, I will add a small dose of 5-HTP such as 50 mg at bed time and a good B complex (Extension B-Plex), 1 capsule with the AM meal. If your son has a hard time swallowing capsules, open the capsule and mix the contents in a single swallow of oatmeal, mash potatoes, or applesauce. All my patients also routinely take Vitamin D3 daily, a minimum of 1,000 IU per day.

I sit on the medical advisory board for the local county Headstart program, and have found that the other 3 big issues on the more conventional and well appreciated side of ADD/ADHD are low iron levels, high lead and mercury, dehydration and sleep disturbances. Iron levels can be measured via a CBC with differential and ferritin, the lead and mercury also via blood or hair analysis. Lastly, sleep disturbances are particularly problematic in 25 percent of kids with ADD/ADHD, so with the nerve issue in particular if your son snores or gets really quiet between breaths you may wish to have him evaluated. Also low blood sugars can be a huge issue with children and adults with ADD/ADHD, so more frequent meals and a nice amino acid blend would be great—depending on allergies either Amino EDGE or Rice Bran Protein Complex, both of which will offer an overall amino acid foundation as well as help with nutrition and blood sugar stability.

Sincerely,
Chris D. Meletis, ND