Zinc is an important micronutrient needed for many different functions in the body. A genetic mutation in your zinc transporter gene and a lack of dietary zinc can lead to a zinc deficiency. This, in turn, can affect sleep issues, hyperactivity, inattention, oppositional behavior and impulsivity in those with ADHD.
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How you can feel when you have ADHD Our brains have a pathway called the Dopaminergic pathway, which controls how we feel pleasure, think, remember things, and move our bodies. When things go out of balance in this pathway, it can make us more likely to struggle with addictive behaviors like using substances excessively or engaging in risky activities. Did you know that up to 50% of individuals with continuing ADHD symptoms have a substance-use disorder? If you have ADHD, you might have symptoms like feeling restless, having trouble controlling your mood, or feeling overwhelmed. You are seeking the very thing that your brain struggle with: dopamine. You are on a constant quest for something that will help you feel normal, like you belong. That will quieten the constant noise in your head and give you peace. But for most of us with ADHD, peace often eludes us… Because of these feelings, you might try to find ways to calm down and get rid of the anxiety. Why many with ADHD have addiction problems ADHD can affect your ability to make decisions, use judgement and practice self- control, you might end up turning to substances that temporarily make you feel less restless or anxious, and more like everyone else. This feeling of relief can be addictive, leading to a cycle of substance abuse. Research shows that people with ADHD often have genes that make them more likely to develop addictive behaviors. ADHD is a condition that affects the structure and function of the brain, as well as how certain chemicals in the brain, like dopamine, and other neurochemicals work. Many people with ADHD don’t realize they’re seeking substances to help them feel “normal.” Even after being diagnosed, some still struggle with substance abuse. However, treatments like medication or supplements can help manage ADHD symptoms and reduce the risk of substance abuse. (substance abuse refers to alcohol, nicotine and possibly even other drugs) It’s important to understand how ADHD affects your brain and why you might be more prone to addictive behaviors. Substance abuse can make ADHD symptoms worse and cause other health problems. If you’re struggling, it’s essential to seek help from medical and mental health professionals who can offer safer and healthier ways to cope. How genetic testing can help The DNA Resilience test looks at 7 neurochemicals to see how well you can handle stress and difficulties. And the DNA Mind test looks at Neurodegenerative disorders, Mood regulation and Addictive behavior – Risk for alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and opioid dependence, psychosis response from cannabis use, eating disorders (binge eating), ‘adrenaline seeking’ or risk-taking behavior. These two tests together can help someone with ADHD to get personalized advice on diet, supplements, exercise, and lifestyle changes to optimize your resilience and improve your overall health. I also recommend my clients get a functional test to look at neurochemical metabolite levels, micronutrients, amino acids, fatty acids and proteins. Contact me for more info on these tests to orders yours and receive nutrigenetic feedback. Interested in learning more about genetics and epigenetics? Then sign up for my exclusive membership here . This membership gives you access to a wealth of information for life! With a single once-off fee. Increase your knowledge and learn how to improve your genetic expression. Sources: Sullivan MA, Rudnik-Levin F. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and substance abuse. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001 Jun;931:251-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb05783.x. PMID: 11462745. Zulauf CA, Sprich SE, Safren SA, Wilens TE. The complicated relationship between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2014 Mar;16(3):436. doi: 10.1007/s11920-013-0436-6. PMID: 24526271; PMCID: PMC4414493. Anker E, Haavik J, Heir T. Alcohol and drug use disorders in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Prevalence and associations with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity and emotional dysregulation. World J Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 19;10(9):202-211. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v10.i9.202. PMID: 33014721; PMCID: PMC7515748.
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Methylation is a key biological pathway in the body. Mutations in the MTHFR gene have been linked to ADHD. Find out how supporting your methylation pathway can help you manage your ADHD symptoms.
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Iron is required for many functions in the body and brain including oxygen transport, immune function, and DNA synthesis. A deficiency can aggravate ADHD symptoms such as lack of focus and attention and mood regulation.
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(see my post for Fast COMT) What are catecholamines? Catecholamines, which include dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, are neurotransmitters made from the amino acid tyrosine. These chemicals are present in the central and peripheral nervous systems and are linked to pain and mood disorders. An imbalance of catecholamines have been found in people with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and mood disorders like depression and anxiety. The COMT enzyme helps break down catecholamines. When COMT activity is low, it leads to higher dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is crucial for regulating emotions, pain perception, motivation, and behavior. Both COMT and dopamine receptors work together to maintain a balance in dopamine transmission, and an imbalance can lead to increased pain sensitivity and depression. What is COMT? We all have a COMT gene. COMT stands for catechol-O-methyltransferase. There are three variants of this gene, simply known as fast, slow or Intermediate. The COMT enzyme encodes the COMT gene which is involved in the breakdown of estrogen, caffeine and various catecholamine’s like dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. COMT is part of an important biological pathway in the body called Methylation and is part of your dopaminerigic pathway. Slow COMT is known as met/met, AA or written as +/+. If you have a slow COMT, this means that the COMT enzyme that encode the COMT gene is slowed in it’s activity to break down estrogen and catecholamines like dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. This could mean you can have higher levels of these. This isn’t necessarily a good thing. What are some symptoms/signs of slow COMT? Here are some common symptoms or signs that you could have a slow COMT variant: You are prone to anxiety and mood disorders You have a good memory You can concentrate and pay attention quite well but get bored You don’t do well with caffeine or other stimulants, they tend to make you feel anxious You get stressed quite easily and have trouble calming down You have OCD tendencies You tend to be a workaholic It takes you a long time to calm down after you are upset You struggle with sleep You are easily irritated or annoyed You tend to react badly to anti-depressants You are energetic and some may describe you as hyperactive You are perhaps an extrovert and like to socialize You have menstrual issues and have experienced fibroids and PMDD Slow COMT and Estrogen With estrogen, higher levels bring about their own problems such as: *weight gain *unpredictable periods with light or heavy bleeding *irritability *uterine fibroids *certain cancer such as breast, ovarian *anxiety Slow COMT and ADHD With ADHD and high levels of dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine we start to see things like hyperactivity, impulsivity, mood disorders, inability to calm down or relax, more stress, insomnia and maybe more aggression. Stimulants and Anti-depressants For people with slow COMT, they don’t react well to stimulants like caffeine and green tea and also do not always tolerate stimulant ADHD meds well or antidepressants. This is because they already have higher baseline levels of certain neurochemicals, and sometimes, this can cause an imbalance between them making a bad situation worse. For those with ADHD and slow COMT, they do not tend to react well with stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall, and Vyvanse but do better on a non stimulant such as Intuniv. So what do you do? Getting support for your slow COMT This is what I do as a nutrigenetic practitioner and nutritional health coach. By getting your DNA tested through me, I help you understand what it is happening and provide you with the education, and recommendations to improve your ADHD, hormones, and cognitive function. Carrying a slow COMT gene does not mean it is behaving that way, it depends on how it is being influenced through epigenetics, such as what you are eating, your lifestyle, stress management and so on and these are the things we delve into so that you can improve your health and support it on a genetic level. Contact me for more information if you recognize yourself in this and want more support.
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A fast COMT enzyme can break down estrogen and various catecolamines too quickly, leading to lower levels. This can impact your life in various ways, especially as a women with fertility, mood regulation and through the menopause years.
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