Is it ADHD or low iron?

A 2004 study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, found that 84 percent of children with ADHD had significantly lower levels of iron, compared with 18 percent of kids without ADHD.

Can vitamin deficiency mimic ADHD?

There is no conclusive data to support nutrient deficiencies as a cause of ADHD. However, research does exist demonstrating that patients with ADHD have reduced levels of vitamin D, zinc, ferritin, and magnesium.

What are the behavioral symptoms of iron deficiency?

Behavior often seen in infants and children includes wariness and hesitance, lack of positive affect, and diminished social engagement. In adults, anxiety and depression are common. Mechanisms of iron-affected behavior change include changes in functions in the hippocampus, the corpus striatum, and neurotransmitters.

Can low iron cause focus issues?

Among the cognitive impairments caused by iron deficiency, those referring to attention span, intelligence, and sensory perception functions are mainly cited, as well as those associated with emotions and behavior, often directly related to the presence of iron deficiency anemia.

Can iron deficiency look like ADHD?

The children with the most severe iron deficiency were the most inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive. This result suggests that low iron stores may explain as much as 30% of ADHD severity. The CPRS scale of ADHD includes 3 subscores: hyperactivity, oppositional, and cognitive.

ADHD and Iron Deficiency

What are the 3 stages of iron deficiency symptoms?

What are the signs that you need more iron?

Why are people with ADHD low in iron?

Evidence suggests patients with ADHD may experience lower stores of iron (ferritin) in the liver. This is proposed to be due to higher levels of hepcidin in ADHD patients. In our previous blog, we explain how Hepcidin is a peptide hormone that acts as the master regulator in iron metabolism and storage in the liver.

Does low iron make ADHD worse?

Now, just as you're savoring your successes, the latest research suggests that low levels of iron can worsen attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. You know how important iron is to the body, carrying oxygen to the muscles and organs.

How do I know if its ADHD or something else?

The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor. That's because the disorder has several possible symptoms, and they can easily be confused with those of other conditions, such as depression or anxiety. Everyone misplaces car keys or jackets once in a while. But this kind of thing happens often when you have ADHD.

Can brain scans show ADHD?

Brain MRI is a new and experimental tool in the world of ADHD research. Though brain scans cannot yet reliably diagnose ADHD, some scientists are using them to identify environmental and prenatal factors that affect symptoms, and to better understand how stimulant medications trigger symptom control vs. side effects.

What is the exact opposite of ADHD?

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo is an attention disorder defined by Russell Barkley, Ph.D., as distinct from — but often overlapping with — ADHD. It is characterized by day-dreamy, confused, or sleepy/lethargic behavior.

What do ADHD mood swings look like?

Symptoms of ADHD Mood Swings

Switching from excited one moment to sad, angry, or anxious the next. Fluctuating between having trouble paying attention and hyperfocusing on an activity. Having bursts of energy and fatigue through the day. Feeling emotions intensely and having difficulty regulating them.

What do you crave when your iron is low?

The term "pica" describes craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value — such as ice, clay, soil or paper. Craving and chewing ice, known as pagophagia, is often associated with iron deficiency, with or without anemia, although the reason is unclear.

What is a red flag for anemia?

A sudden lack of energy and chronic fatigue are warning signs that you might be lacking enough iron. In order for all of the cells in your body to function efficiently, oxygen needs to be able to travel freely around the body.

Can low iron make your head feel weird?

Headaches are a possible symptom of anemia. A 2022 study estimates that nearly 80% of people with iron deficiency anemia also experience headaches. Some experts believe that iron is involved in making serotonin, a chemical messenger in the body. People who experience migraine have altered serotonin levels.

What drains iron from your body?

Iron is lost from the body through sweat, shedding intestinal cells, and blood loss. About one third of the world's population is iron deficient. Menstruating women are at greater risk than men and postmenopausal women of iron deficiency.

Does black poop mean iron tablets are working?

Taking iron tablets can turn the stool a dark, almost black color (actually dark green). This is normal, and does not mean that the iron tablets are causing GI bleeding. Children are at particular risk of iron poisoning (overdose), making it very important to store iron tablets out of the reach of children.

Does low iron cause weight gain?

You may also find that low iron causes weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this; firstly, your energy levels are low and so your exercise levels reduce; secondly, iron is essential for thyroid function, and an underactive thyroid will lead to weight gain.

What color are eyes with low iron?

Blue sclera is a common and useful finding of iron deficiency but is often overlooked. In 1908, Sir William Osler first described a blue discoloration of the sclera as a symptom of anemia in young girls and wrote that the eyes “have a peculiar brilliancy and the sclerotics are of a bluish color”.

What color are your eyes when you have low iron?

Blue sclerae appear to be a good indicator of iron deficiency and should become a regular part of clinical examination.

What do iron deficiency nails look like?

Koilonychia is when your nails have an indented shape, like a spoon. Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency. You're also more likely to have spoon nails if you have an autoimmune disease, such as lupus, or poor blood flow to your hands or feet.