Zinc ADHD Vitamins Improve Symptoms of Attention and Hyperactivity

Zinc is one of four ADHD vitamins or supplements that is, indisputably,
helpful in improving the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD). I say indisputably with a qualifier. Many traditionally trained
physicians will dispute the benefit of the use of any vitamin for ADHD symptoms improvement.

Zinc has been used as a vitamin for ADHD in many clinical studies and many well
done case control and random control trials. The results of these studies have
been published in various peer reviewed and respected medical journals and the
majority of these clinical trials have reported findings indicating that zinc is one of the most important ADHD vitamins and that zinc will improve the symptoms of ADHD.

Zinc ADHD Vitamins

Zinc is naturally found in oysters, wheat germ, lamb, veal liver, peanuts, dark
chocolate and sesame seeds but many people do not consume enough of these foods
to get and adequate amount of zinc in their diets. People who eat a diet that
does not include enough zinc rich foods will be zinc deficient and these zinc
deficiencies has been shown in studies to cause memory deficits, hyperactivity
and learning problems.

Zinc is especially important during childhood development and it plays an
important role in brain maturation. One study of young, zinc deprived, monkeys
reported findings indicating that zinc deprivation led to learning and memory
deficits as well as emotional immaturity.

The reason that zinc helps the symptoms of ADHD is related to the fact that zinc
is necessary for our bodies and our brains to break down and use many bodily
elements that are significant for proper brain functioning. These same brain elements are also
important in the treatment of ADHD.

The science behind how zinc works is complicated but some of the bodily factors that are
affected by the ADHD vitamin, zinc include:

1. The use of dietary proteins which are the essential building blocks of our brain messengers, the neurotransmitters.
2. The effectiveness of the essential fatty acids such as the Omega-3 fatty acids that are not only brain anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory but that also play an important role in ADHD treatment as mentioned in the post on Omega-3 and ADHD
3. Dopamine, serotonin and nor-epinephrine, the neurotransmitters that are thought to play the most important and critical role in the development of ADHD symptoms. 
4. Melatonin which not only contributes to the quality of our sleep but that also acts to regulate the use of dopamine in our brains. 

Children with ADHD have been found to have lower zinc concentration than
children with no ADHD symptoms . One study found that 2/3 of children with ADHD
had zinc deficiencies. Supplemental zinc when used as an ADHD vitamin has been
found to improve the inattention of children with ADHD as well as the hyperactivity of ADHD.

Other vitamins for ADHD such as magnesium, the B vitamins and Iron work together
with zinc to improve brain function. One study found that verbal and non-verbal
memory deficits in children could be corrected with the use of and zinc and iron
supplement.

Zinc is an important and essential brain nutrient that must be present for our
brains to break down and use many bodily products. Adults and children with ADHD are sometimes zinc deficient because they do not eat foods that are rich in ADHD vitamins such as zinc.

Taking zinc as an ADHD vitamin at a dose of 15mg per day is important to insure that our bodies function properly and this supplemental zinc may improve the symptoms of ADHD. As with any ADHD vitamin or ADHD supplement, before taking supplemental zinc, adults and children with ADHD should consult their physicians.