Post by catatonic on Jun 14, 2004 18:51:17 GMT -5
The article you linked to in your post provides a good overview of lecithin:
www.diannecraft.com/memory1.html
I highly recommend lecithin. It's one of my son's 3 "cornerstone" supplements. (The other two are Omega-3 and magnesium.)
Biochemically, the most important things lecithin does are:
1.) Provide phospholipids. Phospholipids make up the brain's fatty sheath and form a protective barrier around nerves, and are primarily what our cell walls are made from.
2.) Provide nutrients that can enhance the brain's production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Studies on lecithin's impact on memory and cognition have produced somewhat mixed results. The consensus seems to be that it ought to have a "moderate" impact in these areas. Keep in mind, in general these studies were performed on geriatric populations suffering from degenerative diseases of ageing (such as Alzheimer's). Children with ADHD are a completely different population...and studies that have focused specifically on them indicate that choline is an issue in this group.
One study used MRS technology to determine that the ADHD children examined had depressed levels of choline in the frontal lobes of their brains, and that this in turn decreased their working memory skills.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10955200
On the other hand, another MRS study indicated that brain choline concentrations were elevated (because it is not well-utilized??)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11711211
Most of this research is either contradictory, poorly designed, relies on tiny samples, or is not specifically targeted to ADHD... but in studies of general populations, I find the evidence for lecithin's therapeutic value convincing. I think it's important for a healthy, well-nourished brain. And my son responds quite nicely to it...by showing an increase in ATTENTIVENESS. To me this is a really big deal, because improving his attentiveness has been a huge struggle. After several weeks of daily lecithin, he shows better ability to focus and to work independently.
I use the granules, which I buy in a big 2-lb cannister. I put 2 Tablespoons in his food in the morning. (Usually in a breakfast shake in the blender, but we've dumped it over oatmeal and even sprinkled it on nachos. It smells kind of nutty and doesn't taste bad. (I think the liquid is gross, and the capsules are so wimpy that you need to take 25 or 30 per day to get an appropriate dose.)
Personally, I'd say give lecithin a try for a month. If you don't see any real improvement by then (or if your child actually gets worse) at least you haven't wasted much money, and since it's summer you don't have to worry about impacting school performance.
www.diannecraft.com/memory1.html
I highly recommend lecithin. It's one of my son's 3 "cornerstone" supplements. (The other two are Omega-3 and magnesium.)
Biochemically, the most important things lecithin does are:
1.) Provide phospholipids. Phospholipids make up the brain's fatty sheath and form a protective barrier around nerves, and are primarily what our cell walls are made from.
2.) Provide nutrients that can enhance the brain's production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Studies on lecithin's impact on memory and cognition have produced somewhat mixed results. The consensus seems to be that it ought to have a "moderate" impact in these areas. Keep in mind, in general these studies were performed on geriatric populations suffering from degenerative diseases of ageing (such as Alzheimer's). Children with ADHD are a completely different population...and studies that have focused specifically on them indicate that choline is an issue in this group.
One study used MRS technology to determine that the ADHD children examined had depressed levels of choline in the frontal lobes of their brains, and that this in turn decreased their working memory skills.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10955200
On the other hand, another MRS study indicated that brain choline concentrations were elevated (because it is not well-utilized??)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11711211
Most of this research is either contradictory, poorly designed, relies on tiny samples, or is not specifically targeted to ADHD... but in studies of general populations, I find the evidence for lecithin's therapeutic value convincing. I think it's important for a healthy, well-nourished brain. And my son responds quite nicely to it...by showing an increase in ATTENTIVENESS. To me this is a really big deal, because improving his attentiveness has been a huge struggle. After several weeks of daily lecithin, he shows better ability to focus and to work independently.
I use the granules, which I buy in a big 2-lb cannister. I put 2 Tablespoons in his food in the morning. (Usually in a breakfast shake in the blender, but we've dumped it over oatmeal and even sprinkled it on nachos. It smells kind of nutty and doesn't taste bad. (I think the liquid is gross, and the capsules are so wimpy that you need to take 25 or 30 per day to get an appropriate dose.)
Personally, I'd say give lecithin a try for a month. If you don't see any real improvement by then (or if your child actually gets worse) at least you haven't wasted much money, and since it's summer you don't have to worry about impacting school performance.
