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What if you could treat one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children with a simple, safe, affordable, and effective method?
Many healthcare professionals overlook nutrition, yet mineral imbalances are often seen in medical disorders such as ADHD. Restoring nutrients through an integrative treatment program is effective in treating ADHD symptoms.
This two-part series will examine mineral deficiencies of zinc and magnesium and excess Copper and their relationship to neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Minerals are essential for health.
Minerals are essential inorganic substances for cell metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, growth and development. Minerals such as magnesium should be consumed at higher levels than trace minerals such as zinc and Copper, even though both are essential for various bodily functions. Our bodies do not synthesize minerals, so we must obtain them through food or supplements.
Mineral deficiencies are common in patients with psychiatric disorders. Our soils are depleted of minerals due to modern agricultural practices, such as fertilizers or erosion. Moreover, food that is processed is stripped of vital minerals. Stress and sweating from hot yoga or exercise can also deplete minerals from the body.
A Toxic Mineral – Lead
Flint, Michigan, switched its water source from Lake Huron in April 2014 to the Flint River. Lead from old pipes leached into the water due to the corrosive nature of the Flint River. This put up to 12,000 kids at risk of dangerous lead levels in the water. After the switch to a new water supply, 5% of children in Flint tested had high blood lead levels. This prompted President Obama in January 2016 to declare an emergency.
Since the US banned the use of lead paint and gas in the 1970s, the blood lead levels of children in the US have decreased. In the US, however, there are still 24 million homes with lead paint that has deteriorated and dust with elevated lead levels. In the US, there has been a variation in the reduction of blood lead levels among children. Reuters recently found that lead poisoning rates in nearly 3,000 US areas were double those of Flint. In more than 1,000 of those areas, the rate of elevated blood tests was at least four times greater than in Flint. Lead, a neurotoxin that can cause irreversible damage to the brain, has the most severe effects on children. Lead has been linked to poor academic performance, lower IQ scores, and impaired motor skills in children, even at low levels.
Lead Exposure and Brain Health
It is not surprising, then, that lead poisoning can cause cognitive, motor, and behavioral changes. According to Braun et al. (2006), lead exposure may be responsible for an excess of 290,000 ADHD cases in US children. In a study of almost 5,000 US kids aged 4-15 years, children with high blood lead levels had four times the risk of having ADHD as compared to those with low blood lead levels. (Braun et.al., 2006). In a 2016 study that explored the link between hyperactivity, impulsivity, and lead exposure in children, it was found that these children were carrying a mutation that controls iron uptake and modulates lead metabolism. Researchers concluded that “The findings of this study are difficult for us to explain, unless lead actually is a cause of ADHD and not just an association.” (Nigg et al., 2016).
The Cincinnati Lead Study participants’ brain scans revealed that childhood exposure to lead was linked with a loss of brain volume in adulthood. Individuals with higher blood lead levels in childhood had less gray tissue in specific brain areas. The prefrontal cortex was the most affected region, responsible for executive functions, behavioral regulation, and fine motor control.
The CDC uses a blood level of 5 ug/dL to determine which children need case management. Numerous studies show that lead levels below 5 mg/dL can still cause hyperactivity and inattentive symptoms, as well as learning difficulties. Even in low blood lead concentrations, the risk of ADHD symptoms is increased. In one study, 2200 children aged 7-9 were monitored for two years if they did not show signs of ADHD at the baseline. Around 5% of children (107 cases) developed suspected ADHD. Children with blood levels of lead >2,17 mg/dL were at a greater risk for developing ADHD than those with levels below 2,17 mg/dL. (Choi, et. al., 2016).
Copper excess in drinking water can cause neurotoxic effects.
Copper produces dopamine in the brain, which supports alertness and motivation.
After the Flint water crisis, public health officials became very concerned about environmental toxins in water and food sources. This led several states to start rigorously testing their water supply. The Boston Globe reported in November 2016 that out of 300 public schools in Massachusetts tested, 227 had elevated levels of Copper, lead or both in their drinking water. Copper is a trace mineral and is necessary in small amounts. However, excessive Copper can lead to oxidative damage of cells and neurobehavioral problems such as hyperactivity or irritability.
Copper levels in our bodies must be kept at a certain level. Copper is involved in the production of dopamine in the body, which supports alertness and motivation. Too much Copper can lead to excess dopamine, which leads to excess norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are high in concentrations that cause symptoms similar to ADHD: hyperactivity and impulsivity. They also lead to irritability and aggression. Copper can also leach into water when copper pipes corrode.
Stimulant medications do not work in children who have excess Copper. They can also cause adverse effects, such as anxiety, agitation, and changes in appetite and sleep. The majority of ADHD medications increase dopamine levels, which intensifies the impact of excess Copper. Copper excess also inhibits the production of serotonin, which regulates mood. Copper and neurotransmitter imbalances can trigger emotional, mental, and behavioral issues such as anxiety and depression.
Some studies have evaluated the neurotoxic effects and role of excess Copper in ADHD symptoms. Children and adolescents with ADHD and attention and short-term memory problems are more likely to have high copper levels (Viktorinova et al., 2016; Kicinski et al., 2015). In a randomized, controlled trial of 80 adults with ADHD who had lower copper levels at baseline, they responded better to treatment using a multi-mineral vitamin and mineral supplement. Only 35% of those with the highest copper levels responded to treatment. Comparatively, 77% of adults in the middle copper-tertile responded (Rucklidge et al., 2014).
Zinc Deficiency and Brain Health
A zinc deficiency, in combination with excess Copper, can be harmful to people who have ADHD. Zinc, another trace mineral essential to the central nervous and neurotransmitter syntheses, is also a vital part of this system. Zinc supports average growth and development by participating in over 300 enzyme reactions. Researchers have connected zinc deficiencies to the pathophysiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including ADHD. Numerous studies have shown that both children and adults with ADHD are consistently zinc deficient.
Zinc is required to synthesize several neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, and enhances GABA, one of our primary inhibitory/relaxation neurotransmitters. The human body does not have a zinc storage system, so daily zinc intake is necessary to maintain a consistent supply. Zinc is depleted by environmental toxins such as Bisphenol A and phthalates, which are found in plastic products.
Numerous studies have shown that zinc levels are lower in ADHD children, and the severity of symptoms is also inversely related to zinc deficiency. In a case-control study conducted recently, 70 percent of 20 ADHD cases between the ages of 6 and 16 were zinc deficient. According to Conners’ Parent Rating Scale (Elbaz et al., 2016), those with lower hair zinc had the highest scores for hyperactivity, inattention, and oppositional behavior. According to their parents, children with ADHD who had lower blood zinc levels also showed more conduct problems, anxiety, and hyperactivity (Oner et al., 2010). Electromyogram (EMG), which measures brain activity, has objectively demonstrated that low zinc levels in plasma negatively affect information processing. Twenty-four control children and 28 boys aged 7-12 with ADHD who were not on medication were compared. The event-related potential indexes in the parietal/frontal regions of the brain showed that ADHD kids had a worse working memory than control kids (lower P3 amplitudes) and a slower information processing rate (longer P3 latency). Zinc levels below 80 mg/dL in ADHD patients showed a worsening of information processing (shorter N2 latencies) and inhibition. The plasma zinc levels of ADHD patients were lower than those of controls. However, brain waves started to normalize as the zinc levels increased (Yorbik and colleagues, 2008).
Zinc Supplementation for ADHD and to Counter Excess Copper
Zinc supplements are more effective than placebos and can enhance the effects of stimulant medication. After 12 weeks of randomization, 400 ADHD children aged between 6 and 14 years old were given either 150 mg/day zinc sulfate or a placebo. Those who took zinc significantly reduced symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and impaired socialization. When over 200 children aged 6 to 14 were randomly assigned to take zinc 15mg/day for ten weeks or a placebo, the zinc-taking group showed significant improvements in hyperactivity, conduct disorder, oppositional behavior, and attention (Uckardes et al.,2009).
Zinc supplementation is also supported by studies as an effective strategy for augmentation since it can help children achieve therapeutic effects from stimulant medications in lower doses. In one study, children were given zinc glycinate (15-30 mg/day) or a placebo. All children received 5-15 mg of amphetamine per day for two weeks. Over the next three weeks, the children were given either zinc or a placebo as the amphetamine dosage was adjusted. Children who received zinc scored higher on neuropsychological testing, particularly impulsivity tests. The optimal amphetamine mg/kg/day dose was 37% less with zinc than with placebo. The optimal absolute mg/day of amphetamine with zinc was also 43% lower than the placebo (Arnold et al. 2011).
You can use the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Test to determine zinc and copper levels within your body. Supplementation can be used to correct an imbalance in these minerals. Children over 12 should take 30mg of zinc picolinate twice daily with their meals. Children between 6 and 11 can take 15mg twice daily with meals. After three to four months, zinc supplements can restore the copper-zinc ratio to normal. After the zinc-copper proportions are balanced, medications will be less likely to have side effects.
To treat ADHD symptoms effectively, it is essential to correct the child’s specific nutritional imbalances. Minerals are necessary for mental and physical health. Zinc and Copper are crucial for the production of neurotransmitters, and they are also part of our antioxidant system that protects cells from free radical damage. Minerals are essential for growth and development, but they need to be balanced. Low zinc and high levels of Copper and lead are typical in children with ADHD. Zinc, Copper, and lead directly affect the brain and can cause inattention, hyperactivity, and aggression. Correcting nutritional imbalances with supplementation can be a safe, effective way to reverse behavioral and attentional symptoms.
About the Author
The Breakthrough Natural Treatment Plan that Restores Attention, Minimizes Hyperactivity, and Helps to Eliminate Side Effects of Drugs. He is currently the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Walden Behavioral Care and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine. Dr. Greenblatt is an integrative medicine specialist who has lectured in the United States about the scientific evidence of nutritional interventions for psychiatry.
