title: Iron deficiency in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iron deficiency causes abnormal dopaminergic neurotransmission and may contribute to the physiopathology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate iron deficiency in children with ADHD vs iron deficiency in an age- and sex-matched control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled group comparison study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Child and Adolescent Psychopathology Department in European Pediatric Hospital, Paris, France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three children with ADHD aged 4 to 14 years (mean +/- SD, 9.2 +/- 2.2 years) and 27 controls (mean +/- SD, 9.5 +/- 2.8 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum ferritin levels evaluating iron stores and Conners' Parent Rating Scale scores measuring severity of ADHD symptoms have been obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum ferritin levels were lower in the children with ADHD (mean +/- SD, 23 +/- 13 ng/mL) than in the controls (mean +/- SD, 44 +/- 22 ng/mL; P < .001). Serum ferritin levels were abnormal (<30 ng/mL) in 84% of children with ADHD and 18% of controls (P < .001). In addition, low serum ferritin levels were correlated with more severe general ADHD symptoms measured with Conners' Parent Rating Scale (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = -0.34; P < .02) and greater cognitive deficits (r = -0.38; P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that low iron stores contribute to ADHD and that ADHD children may benefit from iron supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Service de Psychopathologie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France. eric.konofal@rdb.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Konofal
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lecendreux
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arnulf
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mouren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins