RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SERUM-FREE FATTY-ACIDS AND ZINC, AND ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER - A RESEARCH NOTE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationships between ser um free fatty acids (FFA) and zinc, and attention deficit hyperactivit y disorder (ADHD). Forty eight children with ADHD (33 boys, 15 girls) were included in the patient group and 45 healthy volunteer children ( 30 boys, 15 girls) constituted the control group. The mean serum FFA l evel in the patient group was 0.176 +/- 0.102 mEq/L and in control gro up, 0.562 +/- 0.225 mEq/L (p < .001). The mean serum zinc level of pat ient group was 60.6 +/- 9.9 mu g/dl and that of the control group, 105 .8 +/- 13.2 mu g/dl (P < .001). A statistically significant correlatio n was found between zinc and FFA levels in the ADHD group. These findi ngs indicate that zinc deficiency may play a role in aetiopathogenesis of ADHD. Although we observed decreased FFA levels in ADHD cases, it is necessary to determine whether this condition is a principal cause of ADHD or is secondary to zinc deficiency.