Vitamin Supplements can Help Control ADHD Symptoms, Study Says

Vitamins can help adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder improve concentration, a new study reported.

The study, conducted by researchers at University of Canterbury found that adults with ADHD had better concentration and reduced hyperactivity when they were given vitamins, reported BBC.

People with ADHD or Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder have poor attention spans and have problems controlling behavior. Currently, there is no cure for the condition, but its symptoms can be controlled using drugs.

The present study could open up new treatment strategies for controlling symptoms of the condition.

"It will help in treatment options for children with ADHD who may not tolerate medications or do not respond to the first line treatments. If supported by further studies, micronutrients may become a viable and acceptable treatment option for many families,'' Professor Julia Rucklidge from University of Canterbury (UC), said in a news release.

In the present study, 80 adults with the condition received either supplements or a placebo pill. The supplements had vitamin D, folate, Vitamin B12 iron copper and zinc, BBC reported.

After 12 weeks of the test, participants who were on supplements reported improvement in ADHD symptoms than people on dummy pills.

"Many consumers and practitioners vouch for micronutrients as a treatment for all kinds of ailments, but too often their support is based on anecdotal evidence that is not backed by rigorous scientific approaches. As such, many scientists and clinicians have dismissed nutrients as a viable way forward due to this unfortunate history," said Professor Rucklidge.

Researchers added that this is just a preliminary investigation that shows the potential of micronutrients in controlling ADHD symptoms. Only future long-term clinical trials will show whether these supplements actually help people with ADHD.

The study is published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Recently, an article reported that multivitamin supplements are a waste of money, especially for healthy people.