Post by catatonic on Jan 15, 2004 15:21:20 GMT -5
The Harvard Med study comparing nutritional supplements favorably with Ritalin results used probiotics as one component. Probiotics are lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus, widely available in the refrigerated section of any health food store. (There are dried versions available, but their effectiveness is questionable. It's advisable to purchase live acidophilus.)
In additional to lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus (3 billion live organisms daily), the researchers report including 5mg of lactoferrin and 5mg of silymarin. These are pretty trivial amounts of substances whose usefulness is unclear. Lactoferin is a milk protein with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Silymarin is also called milk thistle (a member of the daily family) and is also an anti-oxidant. My guess is lactoferin and silymarin were "tag-alongs" in a broader supplement. I'm not planning on knocking myself out trying to find them in appropriately tiny quantities. They are available as separate supplements ranging in size from 150mg - 250mg and varyine in price from $20 for 60 capsules to $20 for 200 capsules. I haven't tried the acidophilus yet, but plan to add it in the near future (without worrying about the other two items).
If yeast overgrowth, or candidiasis, plays a part in ADHD symptoms, this will certainly help. I'm not sure how great a role candidiasis plays in ADHD, but there are some researchers who believe it is significant. Probiotics will not harm you, aren't terribly expensive, and seem more than worth experimenting with.
In additional to lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus (3 billion live organisms daily), the researchers report including 5mg of lactoferrin and 5mg of silymarin. These are pretty trivial amounts of substances whose usefulness is unclear. Lactoferin is a milk protein with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Silymarin is also called milk thistle (a member of the daily family) and is also an anti-oxidant. My guess is lactoferin and silymarin were "tag-alongs" in a broader supplement. I'm not planning on knocking myself out trying to find them in appropriately tiny quantities. They are available as separate supplements ranging in size from 150mg - 250mg and varyine in price from $20 for 60 capsules to $20 for 200 capsules. I haven't tried the acidophilus yet, but plan to add it in the near future (without worrying about the other two items).
If yeast overgrowth, or candidiasis, plays a part in ADHD symptoms, this will certainly help. I'm not sure how great a role candidiasis plays in ADHD, but there are some researchers who believe it is significant. Probiotics will not harm you, aren't terribly expensive, and seem more than worth experimenting with.