Functional Medicine for ADHD

An estimated eight percent of adults in the United States will have an ADHD diagnosis in their lifetime (1). Identifying and treating the root causes of this disorder is crucial for long term success and preventing further symptoms. In this article, we’ll review our protocol using functional medicine for ADHD.

What is ADHD?

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that is often diagnosed in childhood and can persist into adulthood.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults may include:

Difficulty focusing
Restlessness
Impulsivity
Poor time management
Frequent mood swings
Disorganization

ADHD is often debilitating and can negatively influence academic and professional performance, relationships, self-esteem, and daily functioning. People with ADHD often report other mental health disorders, like anxiety, as well. Read more about using functional medicine for anxiety.

Male factor infertility accounts for nearly 50 percent of all infertility cases (1). Infertility is generally defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after at least 12 months of unprotected intercourse or after 6 months in women over 35 years of age.

While improving sperm quality is vital in men with less than optimal sperm parameters, it is also equally crucial in cases where the female partner has poor egg quality or conditions that may affect fertility, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Fortunately, there are several evidence-based ways to improve sperm quality. It is commonly known that improving sperm quality may increase chances of conception; however, many people do not realize that sperm quality may also play a role in the risk of miscarriage and/or chromosomal abnormalities. In this article, we’ll review our favorite supplements for male fertility.

Male Fertility

Let’s define a few key semen parameters which help determine male fertility:

Count: the number of sperm per milliliter of semen. As high as 90 percent of male infertility problems are related to sperm count (1).
Motility: the percentage of sperm that can swim properly toward the egg.
Morphology: the percentage of sperm with a normal shape and appearance.

Semen analysis is a helpful screening to rule out any major issues in count, motility, or morphology. However, these parameters typically fall short in showing the extent of damage to the DNA inside the sperm. Fortunately, some supplements for male fertility aim to prevent or correct sperm damage and improve overall semen parameters.

Antioxidants like Vitamin C & E

Sperm is highly susceptible to damage. Oxidative stress occurs when your body has an imbalance of antioxidants to free radicals leading to inflammation and damage to sperm cells. Men can reduce oxidative stress by eliminating or reducing exposure to toxins like BPA in plastics and tobacco smoke. Boosting your intake of antioxidants through food and supplements is also crucial to counteract the harmful effects of oxidative stress.

Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant that may also improve sperm quality. A few studies have found that men who took 1,000 mg of vitamin C per day experienced significant improvements in sperm count, motility, and morphology (2, 3). Men can also boost vitamin C concentrations by eating more citrus fruit, strawberries, bell peppers, and broccoli.

Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant that can reduce sperm damage (4). Sunflower seeds, almonds, and peanuts are great sources of vitamin E.

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral with many important jobs for overall sperm health. Men require a minimum of about 11 milligrams of zinc per day. Adequate zinc is essential for healthy sperm production, morphology, count, and testosterone production (5). Taking a zinc supplement may increase sperm motility as well (6). Food sources of zinc include shellfish, beef, seafood, chicken, cashews, and pumpkin seeds.

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Nutrient Repletion

The foods you eat have a tremendous impact on your ADHD symptoms. Diets rich in colorful whole foods, like the Mediterranean diet, support optimal brain functioning and reduce the risk of ADHD (5). Likewise, supplementing with certain nutrients may reduce symptoms, especially if you are deficient in that vitamin or mineral. For example, individuals with ADHD may be more likely to have lower zinc levels (6). Zinc supplementation was found to reduce symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and impaired socialization in patients with ADHD (7). Additionally, when vitamin D levels are deficient/insufficient, vitamin D supplementation and vitamin D plus magnesium appears to improve ADHD symptoms (8). Healthy fats, like omega-3, are also widely known to promote brain health and may be lower in people with ADHD (9).

Optimize Sleep

Improving sleep quality may improve ADHD symptoms; yet, individuals with ADHD are more likely to suffer from sleep disturbances, like insomnia. ADHD-related sleep problems may be caused by a dysregulated circadian rhythm or imbalances in important hormones.

Here are a few tips to improve sleep quality if you suffer from ADHD:

Avoid sugar, alcohol, and caffeine within a few hours before bedtime
Avoid screens for at least an hour before bedtime
Aim for natural sun exposure the before noon to support your circadian rhythm
Engage in a relaxing bedtime routine every night
Keep the bedroom dark and cool
Go to bed around the same time every night to ensure at least seven hours of sleep

In addition to these tips, we may recommend supplements like Sleep Support. This is a blend of calming herbs, like valerian root, and minerals, like magnesium, which promote quality sleep, especially for individuals feeling wired at bedtime. Many of the ingredients in Sleep Support also aid in the production of a brain chemical called GABA, which helps you relax and get into a deeper sleep each night.