Are Amino Acids Helpful for People with ADHD? Let's Find Out!

As someone with ADHD ( Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), you may be looking for other ways to help yourself besides the medication your doctor prescribes. Maybe a friend told you, or you saw something online, that supplements called “Amino Acids” are good for ADHD . So what’s the truth behind this story? Do these really help with ADHD symptoms?

First, let's see, what are these amino acids?

Simply put, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins in our bodies. Just like bricks are needed to build a house, proteins are needed to build many things in our bodies, such as muscles , skin, and hormones. Amino acids are needed to build those proteins.

There are 20 types of amino acids that our body needs. These can be divided into three main groups.

Some of these amino acids are especially important for our brain function. For example, the amino acid phenylalanine is essential for making the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine , which control things like our attention and happiness. Tryptophan is also used to make serotonin, which controls our mood. The reason why people with ADHD have been talking about amino acids is because it has been found that there are certain changes in this dopamine system.

Do we really need amino acid supplements?

Generally, no. If you eat a balanced diet, you can easily get the amino acids you need. They are especially abundant in protein-rich foods.

• Foods that contain all 9 essential amino acids (complete proteins): meat, fish, poultry, eggs , milk and dairy products, soy, quinoa.
• Foods that contain some essential amino acids: Nuts, seeds, legumes like beans, chickpeas, rice, and other grains .

If you don't eat meat or fish, you can get the necessary amino acids by eating a variety of plant-based proteins (e.g., beans, rice, and chickpeas). Therefore, there is usually no need to spend extra money on supplements.

Is there really a connection between ADHD and amino acids?

This is the most important question. Scientists have done research on this, but the results are a bit complicated.

• What the tests showed:
• Some studies (especially in children) have found that people with ADHD may have changes in the way the amino acid tryptophan moves through their brains. This could lead to lower levels of serotonin, but this is still just a hypothesis.
• Another study using adults found that levels of the amino acids glutamate and glutamine in the brains of people with ADHD were lower than in normal people.
• However, other tests have failed to find any significant difference in amino acid levels in the blood.

Simply put, there's a small chance that there might be a connection between ADHD and amino acids. But science isn't 100% sure yet what it is or what causes it.

So, do amino acid supplements help with ADHD?

The short answer to this is that there is not yet strong enough scientific evidence for that .

Imagine, your friend sends you an online article saying, “Look, this supplement can cure ADHD.” But before we believe such things, we need to know the scientific truth.

• Results of the tests:
• In a small study conducted a long time ago, tyrosine and tryptophan were given, but there was no significant difference in ADHD symptoms.
• You may have heard about a study from 2011 that showed that 70% of people who took amino acids improved their symptoms. But the most important thing is that this study was later found to be flawed and retracted from the scientific community. So its results are completely unreliable.
• Another study found that the amino acid tyrosine slightly improved working memory, but it was not specifically targeted at people with ADHD.

A final word about supplements

In most cases, amino acid supplements are not harmful if taken in the correct dosage. However, they can have risks.

The most important thing is to always talk to your doctor before using any supplements like this. Your doctor knows your health condition and can give you the best advice.

Another thing to remember is that these supplements are not as strictly regulated as prescription medications. This means that there is no 100% guarantee of their quality or safety. If a company or clinic makes big promises like “this will cure your ADHD,” it is important to think twice about the product and them.