Vitamin B12 and haemoglobin levels may be related with ADHD symptoms: a study in Turkish children with ADHD

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated vitamin B12 and iron parameters in Turkish children with ADHD in order to examine the relationship between ADHD symptoms and these parameters.

METHODS: Drug-naive 100 ADHD patients, aged between 6 and 12 years old, were included in the study. None of them had acute or chronic diseases. All patients were assessed by using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children – Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). Conners Parent Rating Scale (CPRS) was used for screening ADHD symptoms and symptom severity. Blood samples were evaluated for ferritin, haemoglobin, MCV, RDW, and vitamin B12 parameters.

RESULTS: We indicated an inverse relationship between haemoglobin levels and learning, anxiety subscale scores of CPRS. Also, vitamin B12 and psychosomatic subscale scores were found negatively related whereas the relationship was in the opposite direction for ferritin. Vitamin B12 level was negatively correlated with learning problems and psychosomatic subscales of CTRS in the combined subtype of ADHD.

CONCLUSION: Vitamin B12 and iron support may be useful in treatment of childhood ADHD, especially for learning problems, besides medication.