Vitamins for Attention Deficit Disorder

2010-08-21

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Vitamins for ADD

It seems like many medications to treat various disorders can have harmful side effects. This is how many medications are for those being treated for attention deficit disorder, ADD. The use of vitamins for attention deficit disorder is starting to grow in popularity as people are looking for more natural alternatives. What vitamins are used for treating ADD and what are the potential benefits?

Zinc

The first vitamin is zinc. According to webmd.com, some studies suggest that children with ADD and ADHD have low levels of zinc in their body. By taking a zinc supplement, impulsivity and hyperactivity can be reduced. Zinc can also be found in many foods such as: oysters, roast beef, pumpkin seeds, dried watermelon seeds, cocoa powder, chocolate, lamb, and peanuts (HealthAlliciousNess). To increase zinc intake, try some of these foods, or simply try the supplement.

Fish Oil

Fish oil can also be beneficial in treating ADD. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids which may improve mental alertness, according to webmd.com. Fish oil naturally comes from eating a variety of fish from tuna to salmon. However, you can take a supplement. Many fish oil supplements have a bad fishy taste to them, so if you are interested in this supplement, simply put the bottle in the refrigerator and the fishy taste goes away. The study as presented on webmd.com, noted that in a study, participants showed improvement in hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and inability to think clearly.

Attentivechild

In researching vitamins for treating ADD, I came across the GNC website. They have a supplement called Attentivechild. It is mainly consisted of magnesium and zinc. According to their website, the supplement enhances mental concentration. This is yet another option if you are looking for more natural remedies. This is a chewable tablet and it costs $20.99 for a 30-day supply.

B-Complex

Vitamin B-complex is another supplement that can be beneficial for those with ADD. B-complex is a combination of folic acid, B-12, B-6, niacin, B-1, and B-2 (gnc.com.) B-complex is designed to improve the chemistry in the brain.

Magnesium

Magnesium is the final vitamin that I will discuss. In order to have the maximum absorption of magnesium, you also need to take a B-6 supplement as well. According to Wellsphere, in a conducted study, many saw an improvement in their symptoms.

Is This For You?

Make sure you talk to your doctor before starting any supplement. The benefit of vitamins is that there are no harmful side effects. If you think this may be for you or someone you know, try them out. They do not work as quickly as prescription medications, but the elimination of side effects is definitely worth it. Now you know a little more about vitamins for attention deficit disorder. Hopefully with this information, you can make an informed decision.