Post by catatonic on Jan 15, 2004 14:52:45 GMT -5
As reported in the most recent issue of Alternative Medicine Review, a nutritional supplement regimen was demonstrated to achieve success equal to Ritalin on 8 separate measures covering both attentiveness and impulse control. The list of vitamins used in the study is roughly equivalent to what you would find using a good multi-vitamin plus additional amounts of several individual vitamins. I compared my Special Two by Now Foods to this list and found most of this list was included. (Special Two includes "green foods" which provide phytonutrients.) The generic multi I looked at was not nearly as comprehensive and would not meet the standards applied in this study. Here is the list:
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 22.5 - 27.5 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 22.5 - 27.5 mg
Vitamin B3 (niacin) - 75-140 mg
Vitamin B5 (panthetine) - 50 - 70 mg
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - 43 - 86 mg
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) - 90 - 175 mcg
Folic acid - 435 mcg
Biotin - 20 - 400 mcg
PABA - 22.5 - 27.5 mg
Vitamin E - 140 - 200 IU
Vitamin C - 750 - 1,000 mg
Vitamin A - 2,000-4,500 IU
Vitamin D - 40 - 100 IU
Vitamin K - 20 mcg
Royal bee jelly (source of biopterin) 75 - 150 mg
Dimethyl glycine - 10 mg
Citrus bioflavonoids - 10 - 20 mg
Proanthocyanidins (grape seed) - 5 mg
Bilberry extract - 20mg
Soy constituents - 20 mg
In general, the B vitamins are covered by a B-50 complex or a "super" multi-vitamin like the Special Two. The exceptions are Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B12, which are provided at a slightly higher level. I know my Special Two provides the additional B12, but a B-50 does not.
Vitamin C, as well, would require separate supplementation to reach the level used in this study. A 500mg tablet in the morning and in the evening would cover it.
The last 5 items are used in very small amounts and ther significance is not clear to me. While Special Two includes the citrus bioflavonoids, it does not include the others, and I'm not planning on worrying about it.
On the Royal Jelly, the role the biopterin it contains plays is that it helps to break down phenylalanine. There is research indicating that ADHD children may have too high levels of phenylalanine. There's some other research indicating they might not have enough. Not knowing which group my boy falls into, if I try the royal jelly, I'll add it separately from anything else and monitor results for a couple of weeks. It's not a terribly expensive supplement. Fresh royal jelly runs about $10 for a one month supply and capsules of freeze-dried royal jelly run about $7 for a 3-month supply.
It appears to me as if the researchers used a multi-vitamin with added "green food" for phytonutrients. While the Special Two is an excellent supplement, it contains apple pectin (a possible reactant to anyone who is salicylate-sensitive) and also alfalfa grass juice, a potential irritant for classic hay fever type allergies.
Overall, the above list is not particularly difficult to replicate closely and there is nothing tricky or unusual about it. It's just a good super-vitamin.
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 22.5 - 27.5 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 22.5 - 27.5 mg
Vitamin B3 (niacin) - 75-140 mg
Vitamin B5 (panthetine) - 50 - 70 mg
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - 43 - 86 mg
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) - 90 - 175 mcg
Folic acid - 435 mcg
Biotin - 20 - 400 mcg
PABA - 22.5 - 27.5 mg
Vitamin E - 140 - 200 IU
Vitamin C - 750 - 1,000 mg
Vitamin A - 2,000-4,500 IU
Vitamin D - 40 - 100 IU
Vitamin K - 20 mcg
Royal bee jelly (source of biopterin) 75 - 150 mg
Dimethyl glycine - 10 mg
Citrus bioflavonoids - 10 - 20 mg
Proanthocyanidins (grape seed) - 5 mg
Bilberry extract - 20mg
Soy constituents - 20 mg
In general, the B vitamins are covered by a B-50 complex or a "super" multi-vitamin like the Special Two. The exceptions are Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B12, which are provided at a slightly higher level. I know my Special Two provides the additional B12, but a B-50 does not.
Vitamin C, as well, would require separate supplementation to reach the level used in this study. A 500mg tablet in the morning and in the evening would cover it.
The last 5 items are used in very small amounts and ther significance is not clear to me. While Special Two includes the citrus bioflavonoids, it does not include the others, and I'm not planning on worrying about it.
On the Royal Jelly, the role the biopterin it contains plays is that it helps to break down phenylalanine. There is research indicating that ADHD children may have too high levels of phenylalanine. There's some other research indicating they might not have enough. Not knowing which group my boy falls into, if I try the royal jelly, I'll add it separately from anything else and monitor results for a couple of weeks. It's not a terribly expensive supplement. Fresh royal jelly runs about $10 for a one month supply and capsules of freeze-dried royal jelly run about $7 for a 3-month supply.
It appears to me as if the researchers used a multi-vitamin with added "green food" for phytonutrients. While the Special Two is an excellent supplement, it contains apple pectin (a possible reactant to anyone who is salicylate-sensitive) and also alfalfa grass juice, a potential irritant for classic hay fever type allergies.
Overall, the above list is not particularly difficult to replicate closely and there is nothing tricky or unusual about it. It's just a good super-vitamin.