Nutrition and Supplements

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Nutrition and Supplements

 

 

 

NUTRITION 101 FOR PARENTS

We were taught in medical school that specific nutrients are needed in our body

to make the biochemical processes work properly. There are literally hundreds of

articles in the medical literature showing a correlation between certain

nutritional deficiencies and many different health problems, from heart attacks

to cancer. In addition, there are blood tests available to help identify

nutritional deficiencies that I have found useful for my patients. Our bodies

depend on nutrients to function. If we don't get enough of the right nutrients,

our bodies can't work appropriately. You might not feel sick without these

nutrients, but you may not actually be well either. Your body must compensate

and work harder if you don't get the nutrients your body needs to maintain

health.

 

THE AMERICAN DIET

 

Let's consider a typical school lunch. It often consists of a soda, chips and

sweet desserts. Many schools even have soda and candy machines in the schools

and actually encourage children to purchase these products because it brings in

revenue to the school. With this kind of food and drink being provided in our

schools, it is no wonder that our children are having problems.

 

There was a very interesting study done in 803 New York public schools and in

nine juvenile correction facilities. In this study, researchers increased fruits

and vegetables and whole grains and decreased fat and sugars. They then

followed these children for a couple of years. They made no other changes in

the schools and correctional facilities during that time period, thereby

assuring the accuracy of the results, which were dramatic and astounding. After

making these simple changes to the children's diets, the academic performance of

1.1 million children rose 16 % and learning disabilities fell 40%. In the

juvenile correction facilities violent and non-violent antisocial behavior fell

48%. According to one of the researchers, the schools have not instituted any of

these dietary changes on a permanent basis. Instead, the children in New York

and the rest of the nation continue to be prescribed drugs. And when parents

refuse to drug the children, those parents may be turned in

to authorities for medical negligence. The negligence here is not with the

parents. No child should be drugged in a school that promotes the sale of soft

drinks and junk food.

 

DIET IS NOT ENOUGH

 

Even when we eat more nutritious foods, I do not believe that we can get enough

of the nutrients we need from our diets. Not only are most foods laden with

sugar and artificial ingredients, many have chemicals added to lengthen their

shelf life. Animals are fed antibiotics, hormones and other chemicals before

they are slaughtered and fruits and vegetables are sprayed with pesticides while

they are growing. All of these things can affect the quality of the foods we eat

as well as add unhealthy toxins to our biological systems. Our environment also

adds to our toxic load.

 

The pollution in our atmosphere and the toxins in our foods mean that our bodies

have to work even harder to dispose of these toxic chemical by-products. For the

liver to detoxify the toxins that enter our bodies, it must have the help of

nutrients. The vitamins and minerals are used to make our biochemical processes

work. Without an adequate supply of nutrients, our body simply cannot function

properly. Many children diagnosed with the symptoms of ADHD show reactions and

sensitivities to these food-based chemicals and environmental pollutants. They

may also be deficient in many of the needed nutrients. That is why I recommend

that my patients, as often as possible, eat organic and natural foods and take

oral nutritional supplements.

 

In light of the many problems and concerns with the American diet, I believe

that supplementing nutrients can help to make our children healthier, and, as

I've seen in my practice, the supplements can make a major difference in how

they feel and act. That's why I recommend supplements for all my patients. I

have had children in my practice do nothing more than take supplements and

improve significantly.

 

SUPPLEMENTS 101 FOR PARENTS

 

 

 

There has been much research on the effects of nutrients on behavior and

attention. The following are the ones I find most beneficial for my patients.

Remember, just because a nutrient is good for you, more of it is not necessarily

better. While most nutrients have no known toxicity or side effects, some do

have side effects in large doses. Do not exceed recommended doses. Locate a

physician in your area who knows about nutrition and check with that physician

before taking anything. Here is a list of specific nutrients and supportive

literature.

 

Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6, in a double blind, crossover study published in

Biological Psychiatry 1979 (14) 5, was found to be more effective than

methylphenidate (Ritalin®) in a group of hyperactive children.

 

Thiamin: According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1980 (33) 2,

when thiamin deficiency was corrected, behavior improved.

 

Calcium: Supplementing calcium to deficient children may improve their

hyperactivity (Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1975 (8): 354.

 

Magnesium: Magnesium deficiency in children is characterized by excessive

fidgeting, anxious restlessness, psychomotor instability and learning

difficulties in the presence of normal IQ. (Magnesium in Health and Disease,

Seelig, Mildred, 1980) Magnesium is needed in more than 350 different

biochemical reactions.

 

My own experiences with magnesium match those published in " Clinical Aspects of

Chronic Magnesium Deficiency " (Seelig, Mildred, Magnesium in Health and Disease,

Spectrum Publishing, 1980.) One teenage patient of mine said he felt

dramatically better, calmer and better able to focus on his schoolwork when I

treated him for his magnesium deficiency. Unfortunately, the typical American

diet does not supply much magnesium. It is found in green leafy vegetables and

nuts like cashews and almonds, which are not mainstays of most children's diet.

 

Vitamin C: When Vitamin C was increased by 50% it was found that IQ scores went

up 3.6 points. (Kabula, A., Journal of General Psychology, 1960 (96) 343-352.)

[it is thought that IQ is not supposed to change over one's lifetime, yet 3.6

points is a significant amount. The increase of 50% is equal to someone who was

taking just 100 mg of Vitamin C increasing to 150 mg of Vitamin C.]

 

Niacin: Another B vitamin, was found to be helpful for the symptoms of

hyperactivity, poor school performance, perceptual changes and inability to

maintain social relationships. (Hoffer A., " Vitamin B3 dependent child. "

Schizophrenia, 1971 (3) 107-113.) [These are symptoms which many children who

have received the ADHD label have in common.]

 

Pyridoxine, folic acid, thiamin, niacin, and vitamin C were the nutrients most

commonly found to be low in children who measureably improved on

supplementation. Deficiencies of vitamins A, E, B12, pantothenic acid,

riboflavin, and other vitamins and minerals also were linked to bad behavior.

Improvement could not be expected unless all deficiencies were corrected.

(Schoenthaler, S.J., " Nutritional deficiencies and behavior " quoted in Bellanti

J.A., Crook W.G., Layton R.E., eds. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:

Causes and Possible Solutions.

 

(Proceedings of a Conference). Jackson, TN: International Health Foundation,

1999.)

 

Zinc: Children with Zinc deficiencies were found to be irritable, tearful and

sullen. They are not soothed by close body contact and resent disturbances.

Zinc deficiencies result in hyperactivity and changes in seratonin levels.

[Remember the SSRI drugs, Zoloft, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, etc., that I mentioned

in Step 1? These drugs are supposed to affect the seratonin levels in the body.

Maybe the people who are taking these drugs are just Zinc deficient?] Not

surprisingly, one study showed Zinc levels in children diagnosed with ADHD were

found to be significantly lower than control (Biological Psychiatry, 1996).

 

DMAE: DMAE is a neurotransmitter precursor that has been used for years to

improve behaviors, mental concentration, puzzle-solving ability and

organization. DMAE was found to increase mental concentration after six weeks of

use. This report was in the Journal of Pediatrics in 1958. [Pediatricians have

had this information available to them for more than 40 years. Parents deserve

to know about this information. One parent reported to me that her son's teacher

thought that he had started taking Ritalin® when he had actually begun taking

DMAE.]

 

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's): Lower levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, which are

found in fish oils and flax seed, were discovered in children who had more

temper tantrums and sleep problems. (Stevens L.J., Zentall S.S., Deck J.L.,

Abate M.L., Watkins B.A., Lipp S.R., Burgess J.R. " Essential fatty acid

metabolism in boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. " (American

Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1995 (62) 4: 761-8.)

 

DHA, another EFA, is found in the central nervous system. High levels of DHA

are important for learning, for visual function and for general central nervous

system development. (Ensein, M., et al., LIPIDS, 1991 (26) 3. )

 

Deficiencies in the omega-3 fatty acids and DHA can impair learning. In

addition, a significant number of boys with heath and learning problems were

found to have lower total essential fatty acids. (Mitchell, E.A., et al,

Clinical Pediatrics, 1987 (28) 8: 406-11. )

 

DHA is an Omega-3 Fatty Acid that is necessary for brain development and

functioning. (Simopolos, A.P., " Omega-3 fatty acids in health and disease and

in growth and development. " American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1991, (54)

3:438-63 )

 

l-Glutamine is an amino acid (a protein building block) and is important in

supplying energy to the brain. It is also a brain neurotransmitter. It has been

used to help curb sugar cravings, increase mental acuity, and to nutritionally

support the nervous system. (Hackman, R.M. " Glutamine and Human Performance,

Nutrition Science, March ,1997.)

 

Vitamin B12 helps cells in the body grow and maintain normal function. It is an

important vitamin for the nervous system. Vitamin B12 is used to improve

neurologic symptoms such as loss of memory and moodiness. (American Journal of

Clinical Nutrition, 16 January 2001 (71): 514-522.)

 

Chromium is an essential trace mineral. Low chromium levels may be a

contributing factor of hypoglycemia in some people. (Anderson, R.A., Polansky,

M.M., Bryden, N.A., Bhathena, S.J., Canary, J.J. " Effects of supplemental

chromium on patients with symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia, " Metabolism, 1987

(36): 351-355.)

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