Study of Iron Profile and Effect of Oral Iron Supplementation in Patients of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Case Series

Abstract

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric condition affecting the preschoolers, children, adolescents and adults globally. Dopamine synthesis is dependent on availability of iron in the body and dopamine deficit theory is the widely accepted ADHD causation theory. So, serum iron levels are important to watch out for in patients suffering from ADHD. This article describes six cases to emphasise the importance of diagnosing and treating underlying Iron Deficiency (ID) state with oral iron supplementation for effective management of patients suffering from ADHD. All the six cases which were given oral iron supplementation along with methylphenidate had shown improvement in inattentive domain and in hyperactivity-impulsivity domain at both home as well as school settings. They were given doses of methylphenidate and oral iron supplement as per the recommended body weight. Their parents and teachers were asked to mark the responses on Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale (SNAP-IV) 26 item parent and teacher rating scale respectively. Scores on SNAP-IV were recorded at the first visit and after three months of treatment. Scores were then evaluated on both occasions for evidence of improvement in ADHD symptoms.

Keywords

• dopamine
• hyperactivity-impulsivity domain
• inattentive domain
• nolan and pelham rating scale
• swanson