Find out what researchers have published in professional journals on connections between AD(H)D and other conditions.

Ear Infections (Otitis Media) & ADD/ADHD

Otitis media in children with learning disabilities and in children with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity:

"Based on parental report, children with ADD-H had significantly more complaints of earaches during the preceding 3 months and significantly more ear infections during the preceding year...Although middle ear disease in preschool children has repeatedly been linked to later language deficits, this study suggests that middle ear disease in school-age children may also be associated with hyperactivity and/or inattention, independently of learning disability."

- Adesman AR, Altshuler LA, Lipkin PH, Walco GA. Pediatrics 1990 Mar;85 (3 Pt 2):442-6. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11042.

Minimal brain dysfunction and otitis media:

"The frequency of otitis media among 22 hyperactive children with learning disorders was compared with the frequency of otitis media in a sample of 772 normal children, using the same criteria for the diagnosis of otitis media in both groups. The groups were matched for social class and age when studied (7 to 13 yr. of age). A significantly higher percentage of hyperactive children (54%) had more than 6 episodes of otitis media than was found in the normal group (15%). Thirty-six percent of hyperactive children had more than 10 episodes compared to 5% in the normal sample."

- Hersher L. Percept Mot Skills 1978 Dec; 47 (3 Pt 1): 723-6.

An association between recurrent otitis media in infancy and later hyperactivity:

"An association between the frequency of otitis media in early childhood and later hyperactivity is reported in this study. The subjects were 67 children referred to a child development clinic for evaluation of school failure. Ranging from 6 to 13 years old, all the children demonstrated specific school learning problems, and 27 were also considered hyperactive by two or more raters. Sixteen of the hyperactive children were treated with central nervous system stimulant medication. In retrospect, there was a positive correlation between an increasing number of otitis media infections in early childhood and the presence and severity of hyperactive behavior. Ninety-four percent of children medicated for hyperactivity had three or more otitis infections, and 69 percent had greater than 10 infections. In comparison, 50 percent of non-hyperactive school-failure patients had three or more infections and 20 percent had greater than 10 infections. Twenty-two of 28 children (79%) known to have more than 10 infections experienced recurrent otitis before 1 year of age."

- Hagerman RJ, Falkenstein AR. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 1987 May; 26(5): 253-7.

 

Allergies & ADD/ADHD

Topographic mapping of brain electrical activity in children with food-induced attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder:

"...This investigation is the first one to show an association between brain electrical activity and intake of provoking foods in children with food-induced attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that in a subgroup of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder certain foods may not only influence clinical symptoms but may also alter brain electrical activity."

- Uhlig T, Merkenschlager A, Brandmaier R, Egger J Eur J Pediatr 1997 Jul;156(7):557-61. Institute for Child Health Research, Clinical Sciences Division, West Perth, Australia.

Controlled trial of oligoantigenic treatment in the hyperkinetic syndrome:

"76 selected overactive children were treated with an oligoantigenic diet, 62 improved, and a normal range of behaviour was achieved in 21 of these...symptoms, such as headaches, abdominal pain, and fits, also often improved. 28 of the children who improved completed a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial in which foods thought to provoke symptoms were reintroduced. Symptoms returned or were exacerbated much more often when patients were on active material than on placebo. 48 foods were incriminated. Artificial colorants and preservatives were the commonest provoking substances, but no child was sensitive to these alone."

- Egger J, Carter CM, Graham PJ, Gumley D, Soothill JF. Lancet 1985 Mar 9; 1(8428): 540-5.

Controlled trial of hyposensitisation in children with food-induced hyperkinetic syndrome:

"Food intolerance seems to be an important cause of the hyperkinetic syndrome, but restricted diets are expensive, socially disruptive, and often nutritionally inadequate. Enzyme-potentiated desensitization (EPD) may overcome some of these difficulties. EPD was tested in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial among 40 children with food-induced hyperkinetic behaviour disorder. A total of 185 children with established hyperkinetic syndrome underwent oligoantigenic dietary treatment for four weeks. 116 whose behaviour responded had provoking foods identified by sequential reintroduction. Foods that reproducibly provoked overactivity were avoided. 40 patients who were then invited to take part in the hyposensitisation trial were randomly assigned to treated and control groups. Treated patients received three doses of EPD (beta-glucuronidase and small quantities of food antigens) intradermally at two-monthly intervals. Controls received buffer only. Thereafter, patients were allowed to eat known provoking foods. Of 20 patients who received active treatment, 16 became tolerant towards provoking foods compared with 4 of 20 who received placebo (p less than 0.001). Our results show that EPD permits children with food-induced hyperkinetic syndrome to eat foods that had previously been identified as responsible for their symptoms. These results also support the notion that food allergy is a possible mechanism of the hyperkinetic syndrome."

- Egger J, Stolla A, McEwen LM. Lancet 1992 May 9; 339 (8802):1150-3. University Children's Clinic, Munich, Germany.

 

Nutritional Concerns & ADD/ADHD

Essential fatty acid deficiencies:

"Boys with lower omega-3 fatty acid values in blood were much more likely to have learning problems and lower overall academic skills and math skills than children with higher fatty acid values."

- Stevens, LJ and Burgess J. Omega-3-fatty acids in boys with behavior, learning, and health problems. Physiology Behavior 1996; 59: 915-920.

Zinc deficiency:

"...Children with ADHD had significantly lower zinc levels than control children. 30% of children with ADHD had severely deficient values. It is possible that low zinc values may result in depressed production of melatonin and serotonin in the brain, resulting in some of the symptoms of ADHD."

- Toren P. et al. Zinc deficiency in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Biological Psychiatry 40: 1308-1310, 1996.

"Monkeys with moderate zinc deficiency had impaired visual attention and short term memory tasks."

- Golub MS et al. Modulation of behavioral performance of prepubertal monkeys by moderate dietary zinc deprivation. Am J Clin Nutr 60: 238-243, 1994.

Vitamin B-6 supplementation reverses ADHD:

"Results of the study indicates that vitamin B-6 at doses between 15-30 mg/kg body weight was effective as Ritalin in treating attention deficit hyperactivity."

- Coleman M. et al. A preliminary study of the effect of pyridoxine administration in a subgroup of hyperkinetic children: a double blind crossover comparison with methylphenidate. Biological Psychiatry 14: 741-751, 1979.

Sensitivity to food colors and flavors:

"This study demonstrated a functional relation between the ingestion of a synthetic food color (tartrazine) and behavioral change in 24 atopic (allergic) children, with marked reactions being observed at all six dosage levels of dye challenge. When they reacted to the (food) dye, the younger children had constant crying, tantrums, irritability, restlessness, severe sleep disturbance, and were described as 'out-of-control, easily distracted and excited, and high as a kite'."

- Rowe K and Rowe K. Synthetic food coloring and behavior: A dose response effect in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated measures study. J. Pediatrics 125: 691-698, 1994.

ADHD and toxic metals:

"The striking dose-response relationship between levels of lead and negative teacher ratings remained significant after controlling for age, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. An even stronger relationship existed between physician-diagnosed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and hair lead in the same children. There was no apparent 'safe' threshold for children."

- Tuthill R. Hair lead levels related to children's classroom attention-deficit behavior. Archives of Environmental Health 51: 214-225, 1996