| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is | | | | Last year, this writer and a team of professionals, with |
| characterized by inattention, impulsivity and, in many | | | | the support of Fisher Institute for Medical |
| cases, hyperactivity. ADHD affects up to 7% school | | | | Research,(Fisher Proceedings, Vol 4, No.2) studied the |
| age children. Problems with focus, concentration and | | | | effects of glyconutritionals in children diagnosed with |
| impulsivity affect all levels of both academic and | | | | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. 20 children |
| interpersonal function. Secondary problems include low | | | | between ages 5-18 were studied, with most children |
| self-esteem, anxiety and problems related to impulsive, | | | | prescribed stimulants at the onset of the study. The |
| hyperactive behavior. | | | | children were administered glyconutritionals for 40 |
| Psychostimulants have been well documented to | | | | weeks from the onset of the study. |
| improve attention span, but not without risk of adverse | | | | 11 children completed the 40 week study. 2 of 11 |
| effects, including loss of appetite, headache, | | | | children experienced improvement by week 4. This |
| stomachache, and mood changes. There is a growing | | | | improvement was sustained for the duration of the |
| concern about what appears to be an increasing | | | | study. Considerable improvement was noted in 5 |
| prescriptive use of controlled substances in children. | | | | children by week 8 and in 2 children by week 12. One |
| Since 1990, prescriptions for methylphenidate have | | | | child experienced transient progress by week 16, one |
| increased by 500%, while prescriptions for | | | | other child did not appear to exhibit any changes for |
| amphetamines have increased 400%. According to | | | | the duration of the study. |
| Gene R. Haislip, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Drug | | | | Side effects diminished considerably. A mean side |
| Enforcement Administration, ?There is a legitimate | | | | effect score dropped from 18.75 to 0 by week 40. |
| place for these drugs, but we have become the only | | | | A second control group was studied; 13 children were |
| country in the world where children are prescribed a | | | | monitored without supplements for 12 weeks and then |
| vast quantity of stimulants that share virtually the same | | | | started glyconutritional supplements. |
| properties as cocaine. We must find a better balance?. | | | | Of the 13 children in the control group, 7 exhibited |
| In 1998, a small pilot study was conducted by Dykman | | | | considerable improvement shortly after administration |
| and Dykman to document the effects of | | | | of glyconutritional supplementation. The progress was |
| glyconutritional supplements in children with ADHD. | | | | sustained for the duration of the study 16 weeks later. |
| During the first two weeks of the study, in children | | | | These results suggest glyonutritional supplements may |
| taking glyconutritionals, a decrease was noted in | | | | help children by reduction of symptoms of ADHD. |
| severity of symptoms associated with ADHD. | | | | Glyconutritionals may also play a role in reducing side |
| (Integrative Physiological & Behavioral Science; Jan-Mar | | | | effects and improving tolerability to medications. |
| 1998:33(1): 49-61.) | | | | Clearly, more formal, and larger studies are needed. |