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L-Carnitine Shows Promise in Significantly Reducing Common ADHD Behaviors |
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L-CARNITINE SHOWS PROMISE IN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING COMMON ADHD BEHAVIORS |
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 esults of a preliminary study on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found
that treatment with L-Carnitine led to
improved home and school behavior and a
significant decrease in attention problems
and aggressive behavior in boys with ADHD,
as compared to baseline. L-Carnitine is a
small, water-soluble nutrient involved in the
conversion of fats to energy. Researchers have
suggested that L-Carnitine is also involved in
membrane repair in the nervous system,
including in the neurons (nerve cells).
Study Finding:
Phase I: In four children with ADHD and low
plasma carnitine levels, providing 100mg
carnitine/kg/day twice daily caused a
decrease in their hyperactive, impulsive
behavior. After cessation of the carnitine,
abnormal behavior returned and reintroduction
of carnitine improved the behavior
again.
Phase II: Extending this intervention, a
study was carried out with 26 boys, aged
between six and 13 years with ADHD diagnosis,
who were not receiving any stimulant
medication. The boys were divided into two
groups and received three treatment periods
of eight weeks each: placebo-carnitineplacebo
or carnitine-placebo-carnitine. The
boys were given 100mg/kg of L-Carnitine
daily (up to a maximum dose of 4g) or
placebo mixed in a beverage twice daily
after meals.
Throughout the trial, the ADHD behavior
was measured by parents completing the
child behavior checklist and by teachers
completing the Conners teacher-rating
score. In addition, blood samples and physical
examinations were taken after each
period. Treatment with L-Carnitine significantly
decreased the attention problems and
aggressive behavior in boys with ADHD. In
13 of 24 boys, both home and school
behavior improved. Compared to baseline,
the L-Carnitine treatment caused in the
responsive patients a decrease of 20–65 percent
of problems recorded and a significant
improvement in recorded behavior.
In the last 10 years new roles for
L-Carnitine have been recognized, including metabolism of fatty acids to docosahexaenoic
acid, which is important for brain maturation
and functioning. The concentration of
this fatty acid is decreased in plasma of ADHD
patients. The Dutch leaders of this study,
Van Oudheusden and Scholte, hypothesize
that L-Carnitine stimulates the synthesis of
both acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter) and
docosahexaenoic acid in certain areas of the
brain involved in ADHD.1 While the investigators
recognize this study has a limited
subject group, they suggest that carnitine may
be a safe alternative to drugs used to treat
ADHD.
ADHD is a diagnosis applied to people
with consistent behavioral problems
including distractibility, impulsivity and
hyperactivity. According to epidemiological
data, approximately four to six percent of the
U.S. population has ADHD. This condition is
not limited to children and approximately
one-half to two-thirds of children with ADHD
will continue to have significant problems
with ADHD symptoms and behaviors as adults.
1. Van Oudheusden, L. J. and Scholte, H. R. “Efficacy
of carnitine in the treatment of children with attentiondeficit
hyperactivity disorder.” Prostaglandins,
Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (2002). Vol. 67 (1)
pp. 33–8.
—Source: Lonza, Inc. Fair Lawn, New Jersey
www.carnitine.com
COMMENTS FROM THE
ALZHEIMER’S PREVENTION
FOUNDATION PRESIDENT
Recently actor Charlton Heston announced
he probably had Alzheimer’s disease. Shortly
thereafter, a column by Jeffrey Zaslow entitled
“Moving On” appeared in The Wall
Street Journal. While reading Mr. Zaslow’s article we were continually struck by the
irony that the concept of hope does not
stand a chance against his much larger backdrop
of despair. In casting deterioration and
death as leading roles in the human tragedy
of Alzheimer’s disease, he is contributing to
the widespread misperception that aging and
degeneration are synonymous. Rather than
using these 15 paragraphs to highlight the
steps that can be taken by the diagnosed to
regenerate and revitalize, the writer chose to
focus on several examples of “noticing symptoms
and saying good-bye.”
It is time to move away from the hexing
messages in the media that Alzheimer’s is a
death sentence. While the unfortunate
reality is that the national dialogue on
Alzheimer’s has historically focused exclusively
on magic bullet-drug-based therapy
for treatment, what was once unthinkable is
now compellingly true. How we live our lives
can help decrease our chances of developing
Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical research suggests
that it is in large measure a disease of
lifestyle and, as such, can be prevented. In
fact, in many cases, its effects can actually be
reversed.
Rather than equate Alzheimer’s disease
with a countdown to last rites, let’s work
together to restore hope to individuals and
families that aging need not to be a process of
brain degeneration. Rather, aging can be a
time of regeneration, wisdom and love.
—Source: Alzheimer’s Prevention Foundation,
“Forget-Me-Not” Newsletter, Fall 2002.
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