Zinc supplements for ADHD Inattentive

Zinc supplements for ADHD Inattentive


Why do zinc supplements help ADHD Inattentive? The answer is medically complicated. Zinc acts a cofactor in about a gazillion (well hundreds anyway) enzyme reactions that help with brain functioning. Zinc plays a role in so many brain processes and trying to figure the most important of these factors is absolutely impossible and not necessary. Zinc is really important to brain functioning and we all need to be eating zinc rich foods or taking zinc supplements for ADHD.

To make matters worse, zinc also work in conjunction with other vitamins and mineral to optimize brain functioning. Magnesium, iron, copper and the B vitamins all acts with zinc in one way or another that can affect the way or brain works.

Zinc help ADHD Inattentive because zinc acts on the brain's metabolic processes that help break down carbohydrates and proteins. Having an appropriate amount of carbohydrates and proteins in the ADHD diet is another topic all together but the sugars and the amino acids that are the result of this protein and carbohydrate break down are necessary for the formation and use the neurotransmitters in our brains. 

Zinc supplements for ADHD Inattentive

The neurotransmitters are important brain messengers and connectors. When the amount or the availability of brain neurotransmitters are not optimal, Inattentive ADHD symptoms can be the result.

Our brains must have an adequate amount of zinc on board to make the best use of the essential fatty acids such as the Omega-3 fatty acids. I spoke in the previous post on Omega-3 fatty acids and ADHD Inattentive about the importance of the Omega-3 fatty acids for diminishing the symptoms of Inattentive ADHD.

Zinc is essential for appropriate melatonin metabolism and melatonin not only contributes to the quality of our sleep but that also acts to regulate the use of dopamine in our brains. The relationship between sleep deprivation and Inattentive ADHD is huge and many researchers contend that many adults and children with ADHD Inattentive (ADHD-PI) are inattentive because of sleep deprivation. 

Studies have not only shown that as many as 66% of children with ADHD are deficient in zinc but more importantly that supplemental zinc improves Inattentive ADHD symptoms. Supplemental zinc also helps hyperactivity and has been shown in some studies to help with memory and learning.

Some pediatricians and psychiatrist have proposed that ADHD Inattentive is the result of an immature brain. Studies performed on monkeys that were deprived of zinc found that these monkeys showed not only cognitive and learning immaturity but also emotional immaturity that could be improved and corrected with the use of supplemental zinc.

Foods that are rich in zinc include oysters, liver and lamb but most adults eat these foods rarely and children will not touch these high zinc foods. Peanuts and dark cocoa also contain zinc but you have to eat a lot of these foods to get the 5mg - 15mg necessary to improve the symptoms of ADHD Inattentive.

Supplemental zinc can help ADHD inattentive. It is one of the ADHD vitamins that have consistently been found to help Attention Deficit Disorder Symptoms. The use of vitamins and supplements should always be discussed with your health care provider but the use of supplemental zinc is, in my opinion, one of the most important components of any ADHD diet.