Oxidative Stress and ADHD: A Meta-Analysis
Nidhin Joseph1, Yanli Zhang-James1, Andras Perl1
1State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA.
Objective:
To clarify the role of oxidative stress and antioxidant activity in ADHD.
Method:
We examined the association of ADHD and oxidative stress by applying random effects meta-analysis to studies of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in medication naive patients with ADHD and controls.
Results:
Six studies of a total of 231 ADHD patients and 207 controls met our selection criteria. The association between ADHD and antioxidant status was not significant. We found a significant association between ADHD and oxidative stress that could not be accounted for by publication bias. The significant association lost significance after correcting for intrastudy clustering. No one observation accounted for the positive result.
Conclusion:
These results are preliminary given the small number of studies. They suggest that patients with ADHD have normal levels of antioxidant production, but that their response to oxidative stress is insufficient, leading to oxidative damage.
Related Concept Videos
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder


