Do ADHD Vitamins Improve ADHD Symptoms and Behavior?

Do ADHD Vitamins Work to Improve ADHD Symptoms and Behavior

Do ADHD Vitamins Improve ADHD?

Do ADHD vitamins work? It may seem strange to ask that question at this point but I am doing so because as I move into posts where I describe ADHD vitamins and supplements where the evidence of symptom improvement is less straight forward, it would be good to clarify some information regarding the effectiveness of ADHD vitamins for the treatment of ADHD behavior and symptoms.

The National Institutes of Health reports on their Complementary and Alternative Medicine webpage that most ADHD vitamins and ADHD supplements do not work. They report that the results from the studies performed on most of these alternative treatments for ADHD have been either mixed or negative, meaning that the ADHD vitamin or supplement did not work.

ADHD Deficiencies are not tested.

They, however, go on to state the following, "For children with demonstrated deficiencies of any nutrient (e.g., zinc, iron, magnesium, and vitamins), correction of that deficiency is the logical first-line treatment. It is not clear what proportions of children have such a nutritional deficiency." The deficiency as a cause of ADHD without other symptoms has not been demonstrated."

The vast majority of children and adults with ADHD are not ever tested for vitamin or nutrient deficiencies. They are not test for food intolerance or food allergies. They may be tested for anemia but serum ferritin levels are not tested and we know from the post on Iron and ADHD that low ferritin levels can bring on or worsen behaviors such as ADHD inattention and ADHD hyperactivity even when anemia is not present.

The fatty acid metabolism of many people with ADHD has been found to be faulty because of genetic variations found in these patients and essential fatty acids are required for normal brain functioning. Supplements of Omega-3 may help patients with ADHD and faulty essential fatty acid metabolism while not impacting those patients with normal fatty acid function.

The symptoms of ADHD are quite different and people with ADHD that are predominantly inattentive may benefit from an intervention that people who are primarily hyperactive will not be helped by. The biological and brain processes, deficiencies and problems that occur in different patients with ADHD can be unique. The brain functioning of one person diagnosed with ADHD can be quite different from the brain functioning of another ADHD patient even when the behavioral symptoms are exactly the same.

It is thought that the brain processes that may be faulty in people with the inattentive subtype of ADHD may be quite different from the brain processes taking place in people with the Combined type of ADHD. Studies performed on ADHD vitamins and supplements do not always separate out the Predominantly Inattentive ADHD patients from the other ADHD patients and this can result in findings that are inaccurate or inconsistent.

ADHD Vitamins most definitely help some people with ADHD

ADHD vitamins and supplements will help many people with ADHD. This help will come as the result of these ADHD vitamins either repairing a deficiency or in some other way fixing a brain process that is faulty. The question of how and when ADHD vitamins help is a complex one but I think that we can say without error that in certain cases and for certain patients, ADHD vitamins do, most definitely, work.

ADHD Vitamins and ADHD Supplements

Vitamins to help ADHD

Many parents and patients prefer to try an ADHD vitamin or ADHD supplement prior to starting an ADHD medication.  ADHD alternative treatment options are abundant but not always effective.

There are many paid sponsor on the internet recommending this ADHD vitamin or that 'special' ADHD supplement.  These ADHD alternative treatments are not all created equal.  Understanding what ADHD vitamins and ADHD supplements is crucial if you are to start an ADHD alternative treatment plan.

There are, in fact, so many ADHD vitamins and ADHD supplements recommended by the internet for improving the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) that a parent or patient can become totally confused regarding what vitamins they should be taking to improve the inattention, hyperactivity or impulsive behavior seen in ADHD.

While many ADHD vitamins have been used to try to improve symptoms, only a few have been shown in studies to actually help hyperactivity, Inattentive ADHD or impulsive behavior. 

Several researchers have reviewed the scientific studies and have found that there are only a handful of ADHD vitamins and ADHD supplements that have in repeated studies found to improve the symptoms of ADHD.

The journal Pharmacotherapy published an update in June of 2009 where they reviewed the available vitamin and supplement treatment for ADHD and concluded that "Polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil), acetyl-L-carnitine, and iron supplements (for youth with low ferritin levels) show promise in improving ADHD symptoms.  Several other new vitamins and supplements are also showing promise in improving the symptoms of ADHD.

The dosage of these ADHD vitamins and ADHD supplements and the specific benefits of each will be discussed at length on this webpage.  When possible I will give instructions on how to get these important vitamins from your diet as this is the best way to get vitamins into our bodies.


I will only write about the ADHD vitamins and ADHD supplements that have been shown in scientific studies to improve the symptoms of ADHD.  Please feel free to comment or ask questions.  I appreciate your visit