According to a study published two weeks ago in The Australia & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry pregnant women who took vitamin D during pregnancy had children with fewer symptoms of ADHD. Researchers demonstrated for every 10 nmol/L increase in umbilical blood vitamin D levels there was an 11% reduced risk of ADHD symptoms.
In this study 1233 children were monitored. Researchers measured vitamin D levels in umbilical blood and mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) when their child was 2 ½ years of age. The CBCL questionnaire can be used to identify early symptoms of ADHD but an ADHD diagnosis cannot be made at that age.
The research team demonstrated that mothers who had taken vitamin D and had umbilical blood levels greater than 25 nmol/L had children with lower ADHD scores. This clear association was seen after they had corrected for other factors such as the mother's age smoking alcohol obesity education number of children psychiatric disease in the parents child's sex age and seasonal variation.
Previously a link between vitamin D and ADHD had not been shown nor that this link could be identified at such a young age. While past studies have demonstrated the role of vitamin D in early brain development this study confirms that vitamin D will help protect against ADHD. (However we still cannot predict which children will develop ADHD later in life.)
An interesting study in February 2015 published in FASEB Journal described that serotonin may be a possible link and thus demonstrated how vitamin D and fish oil support cognitive function. Many brain-based conditions such as ADHD commonly have low brain serotonin. This study explains how serotonin is a critical modulator of executive function impulse control sensory gating and pro-social behavior. Researchers link serotonin production and function to vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids which suggests one way that these important nutrients help the brain function and affect our behavior.
The bottom line is this we need to optimize every patients nutrient status based upon testing and support accordingly and we also cannot forgot the importance of supporting these individuals with essential fatty acids. These are major deficiencies in the US and assessing and supporting healthy vitamin D and essential fatty acids levels would optimize brain serotonin concentrations and function. As a result we can possibly prevent and alleviate some of the symptoms associated with these disorders without harmful side effects.
By Michael Jurgelewicz DC DACBN DCBCN CNS
Designs for Health has been dedicated to being the most trusted source for superior quality, science-based nutritional products for nearly three decades. We’re committed to maximizing successful health outcomes by providing healthcare practitioners with comprehensive support through our extensive product line, ongoing clinical education, and practice development programs. The blogs we publish here cover a range of topics, including new and original approaches to diet and healthcare, analyses of the latest cutting-edge research, deep-dives into specific nutrients, botanicals, nutraceuticals and more, all fully referenced for those who want to dig deeper into the primary literature.
