Iron and Ferritin Levels of Children and Adolescents with ADHD and ADHD-NOS

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of iron, ferritin levels in children with ADHD and ADHD-NOS and to assess the relationship between ADHD symptom severity, anxiety symptom severity and iron, ferritin levels.
METHODS: The study was planned as a cross-sectional, retrospective study. The records of patients who applied to the study center in between January 2012 and January 2013 were screened and 205 ADHD and ADHD-NOS cases’ records were evaluated. Patients were diagnosed clinically according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. ADHD symptom severity was assessed by Turgay DSM-IV–Based Child and Adolescent Behavior Disorders Screening and Rating Scale. Anxiety symptom severity was assessed by The Screen for Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED).
RESULTS: Among the whole sample, 99 (48.3%) patients had ADHD and 106 (51.7%) had ADHD-NOS. The average age of the children in the ADHD group was 10.88 ± 3.02 years, while that of the children in the ADHD-NOS group was 9.93±2.49 years. Iron and ferritin were detected in 81 of 205 patients participating in the study. No statistically significant difference was determined between two groups in terms of iron, ferritin levels (p> 0.05). Statistically significant negative correlations between ADHD hyperactivity symptom severity and iron levels, and ADHD attention deficit symptom severity and ferritin levels were found. Ferritin levels correlated statistically with the total number of psychiatric diagnoses in children.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Iron and ferritin levels may be differentially affected in children with ADHD. Our results should be supported with future studies.