Effect of Iron Supplementation in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Iron Deficiency: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of combined iron supplementation and methylphenidate treatment on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children/adolescents with ADHD and iron deficiency compared with methylphenidate alone. Methods: In total, 116 children/adolescents with ADHD were screened for iron deficiency. Participants who exhibited iron deficiency were randomized into 2 groups (ferrous supplementation vs placebo). Vanderbilt ADHD rating scales were completed by parents and teachers at prestudy and poststudy periods. Student's t tests were used to determine improvements of Vanderbilt scores between the groups. Results: Among 116 children who participated in this study, 44.8% (52/116) met the criteria for iron deficiency. Of the total 52 participants with iron deficiency, 26 were randomized to the ferrous group and 26 to the placebo group. Most participants in each group had been prescribed short-acting methylphenidate twice daily in the morning and at noon. After a 12-week study period, total parents' Vanderbilt ADHD symptom scores showed a significant improvement between the groups (mean decrement = -3.96 +/- 6.79 vs 0 +/- 6.54, p = 0.037). However, teachers' Vanderbilt ADHD symptom scores showed no difference between the groups. Conclusion: Children with ADHD and iron deficiency being on methylphenidate and iron supplementation had shown improvement of ADHD symptoms that were reported by parents.

Automated summary

This study found that symptoms of ADHD and iron deficiency in children improved with the use of methylphenidate and iron supplementation.