The Effects of Vitamin D on Kynurenine Level in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An Epidemiological Study

Background and aims: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonpsychiatric disorders with a worldwide prevalence of ۵%. The prevalence is even higher among schoolage children ranging from ۸% to ۱۲%. ADHD is predominantly childhood-onset disorder and canpersist into adolescence and adulthood to inflict long-term harm. The aim of this study was to identifythe epidemiological features of ADHD and investigate the effects of vitamin D on kynurenine level inchildren with ADHD in Iran using ELISA method.Methods: A case-control study was designed. The study participants consisted of ۴۰ patients withADHD and ۴۰ healthy participants as control group. It was conducted in Isfahan Hasht Behesht hospitalfrom July to November ۲۰۱۵. All samples were treated with ۱۰۰۰ U of vitamin D as a tablet twicedaily. The level of kynurenine was measured in blood samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) method. Data analysis was done using SPSS software.Results: The results of this study showed that the mean vitamin D levels were ۴۹.۷۳ and ۷۳.۷۲,respectively before and after treatment in patient group, which seem significant. The mean vitamin Dlevel after treatment was higher in patient group in comparison with control group. On the other hand,the mean kynurenine levels were ۶۰۸.۱ and ۶۶۲.۹, respectively before and after treatment in patientgroup. The mean kynurenine level was the same before and after treatment.Conclusion: According to the results of the study, we can conclude that vitamin D did not have asignificant effect on kynurenine level in children with ADHD.

Keywords:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , Vitamin D , Kynurenine , ELISA