Serum Ferritin is Negatively Correlated with Inattention in a Sample of Egyptian Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective: Iron deficiency was suggested to play a role in the pathophysiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) due to the role of iron in the production of dopamine and noradrenaline. The aim of the present study was to assess iron status in a sample of Egyptian children with ADHD. Methods: Thirty children with ADHD (6-12 years old) and 15 age and gender matched controls were recruited. Subjects were evaluated using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for kids (mini-kid) and Conner s Parent Rating Scale - Revised (CPRS-R). Laboratory measures were also carried out to investigate iron status in all subjects including: complete blood count, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and serum ferritin. Results: Children with ADHD showed significantly lower levels of hemoglobin and serum ferritin as compared to control groups. A strong negative correlation was found between serum ferritin and ADHD total score and cognitive sub score, but not with hyperactivity sub score. No significant differences were found between the two groups as regards other hematological data. Conclusions: Iron deficiency, with or without anemia, might play a role in pathogenesis of ADHD. Further work is needed to confirm the clinical utility of iron supplementation in the treatment of ADHD, especially in developing countries.