In the present study, supplementation with Vitamin D and magnesium in children with ADHD decreased conduct problems, social problems, and anxiety/shy scores compared with placebo intake, however, did not affect psychosomatic problems scores, significantly.
ADHD Supplement: Magnesium
This mineral won't directly improve attention, but it can calm hyperactivity and agitation, which compromise attention. I find magnesium helpful for children who have a “rebound effect” after their stimulant medication wears off.
Healthy levels of magnesium in the blood can help relax individuals with ADHD. Some small studies8 have shown that adding magnesium supplements decreases some symptoms of ADHD.
In addition, research has shown that children with ADHD just don't eat enough in general to get enough magnesium from their diet. Their dietary intakes of magnesium are low according to research, with 72% of children with ADHD showing low levels.
Magnesium L Threonate (or magnesium citrate in those who can only take gummies) are the preparations that has been most studied and show the highest benefit for ADHD, cognition, mood, and anxiety.
Yes, deficiency can also impact behaviour!
Other symptoms of magnesium deficiency include moodiness (like irritability or hyperactivity), difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and anxiety (6). Studies have shown higher intakes of magnesium to be associated with improvements in the behaviours above (7).
You'll often hear magnesium being referred to as the calming or relaxing mineral. This is because it has an overall calming effect on the nervous system. So when our kids are wound up, hyperactive or irritable, it can help relieve the symptoms. Magnesium also promotes GABA.
Magnesium Improves ADHD Behaviors
In one study, after eight weeks of Vitamin D and magnesium supplementation, the blood levels of these nutrients increased significantly, which resulted in a significant decrease in conduct problems, social problems, and anxiety and shy scores.
Initially, signs of magnesium deficiency in children are loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and weakness. When deficiency is severe, symptoms can include numbness, tingling, muscle spasms or cramps, and severe symptoms related to irregular heartbeats and seizures.
Although children with ADHD may be more likely to have lower levels of vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and iron, it cannot be stated that these lower levels caused ADHD. However, supplementing areas of deficiency may be a safe and justified intervention.
Vitamin B & C
Finally, supplementing vitamins B and C can also help alleviate ADD and ADHD symptoms. Vitamin C, like zinc, iron, and magnesium, is used to produce neurotransmitters like dopamine. Additionally, vitamin B deficiency is linked to irritability and fatigue in children.
I usually recommend giving magnesium 1-2 hours before bed. If you notice that your child seems to have a harder time getting to sleep, it might be that they metabolize magnesium at a different rate. And, that's fine! Give it to your child around lunch time to allow more time to process it.
Magnesium deficiency is diagnosed via a blood test and sometimes a urine test. Your doctor may order the blood test if you have symptoms such as weakness, irritability, abnormal heart rhythm, nausea and/or diarrhoea, or if you have abnormal calcium or potassium levels.
Nutritional deficiencies
There's a strong association between low levels of three minerals – iron, zinc and copper – and a higher risk of developing ADHD. Other minerals such as magnesium may also factor into ADHD.
As you know, one trademark of ADHD is low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine — a chemical released by nerve cells into the brain. Due to this lack of dopamine, people with ADHD are "chemically wired" to seek more, says John Ratey, M.D., professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
ADHD was the first disorder found to be the result of a deficiency of a specific neurotransmitter — in this case, norepinephrine — and the first disorder found to respond to medications to correct this underlying deficiency. Like all neurotransmitters, norepinephrine is synthesized within the brain.
The tolerable upper intake level for magnesium in supplement form is 65 mg per day for children ages 1 to 3, and 110 mg per day for children ages 4 to 8. That's the maximum amount of magnesium added to a normal daily diet considered safe by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine.
In addition to what you get from food, the highest dose you should take of magnesium supplements is: 65 mg/day for children ages 1-3. 110 mg/day for children ages 4-8. 350 mg/day for adults and children ages 9 and up.
One of the benefits of magnesium for children is the fact that magnesium helps in relaxing your children's muscles and calming their nervous system in preparation for sleep. This mineral is often used as a sleep supplement to assist in drifting off for a peaceful night.