Can lack of iron lead to ADHD?
Recent research has linked low iron stores to ADHD. A study published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine looked at serum ferritin stores in 53 children with ADHD and 27 children without ADHD (ferritin is used as a measure of iron stores, as it allows the body to store iron). The study showed that the serum ferritin levels of 87% of the children with ADHD were abnormally low, compared with only 18% of children without ADHD. It was also noted that the children with the most severe iron deficiencies were the most inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive. The researchers concluded that “low iron stores may explain as much as 30% of ADHD severity.”1 The question that remains, however, is whether ADHD is caused by iron deficiency or if iron deficiency only makes the symptoms of ADHD more severe. Either way, it makes sense to consume a diet high in iron-rich foods to prevent iron deficiency. Good sources of iron include, but are not limited to, eggs, fish, kidney beans, poult
