If you’re searching for new approaches to ADHD symptom management, our Toronto area functional medicine practitioners can suggest key supplements for added support. 

We’ve previously discussed customizing ADHD strategies with the functional medicine model. ADHD has been a popular topic because the condition has significantly risen in adults over the past few decades. One study even showed that “…75% of adults with ADHD were not previously diagnosed in childhood,” states a Missouri Medicine article. 

It’s true that personal nutrient levels can influence brain function, especially when it comes to ADHD symptoms. In fact, various studies have indicated that nutritional deficiencies may have a role in several types of mental health concerns, including depression and ADHD. 

Keep reading this post for a review of ADHD symptoms; the types of supplements that functional medicine doctors may recommend; and how our integrative treatment approach works in our private practice. 

Review: ADHD Symptoms in Adults

Some people don’t get diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood. This is because ADHD can manifest differently in people, especially in women. Adult ADHD has similarities to children with the condition, but it may emerge differently in adults due to ‘grownup’ tasks, such as working full-time in an office. The symptoms of ADHD in adults may include but are not limited to: 

• • Issues with stress management and prioritizing duties
  • Impulsivity and concentration problems
  • Disorganization 
  • Mood swings, bad temper
  • Issues with completing projects/tasks
  • Restlessness, fidgeting frequently
  • Tendency to be forgetful on a daily basis

6 Supplements to Consider for Managing ADHD

Nutrients can be supplemented as adjunctive treatments for an ADHD treatment plan. But it’s in your favour to consult with a healthcare provider before taking these supplements; this to help understand if these supplements are suitable for your current health condition, especially for pinpointing contraindications. That said, here are some nutrients shown to potentially aid ADHD symptoms: 

• 1. Iron: There is a relationship between restless leg syndrome (RLS), ADHD, and iron deficiency in adults. Lacking iron can also cause brain fog and potentially chronic fatigue. This supplement may be beneficial for ‘fidgety’ symptoms, helping to manage/reduce RLS discomforts and potentially ADHD symptoms (i.e. irritability and poor memory).
  2. Magnesium: People with ADHD tend to have low magnesium levels compared to those without ADHD. According to a Psychiatry Research article, this deficiency has been allied with cognitive shortfalls, thereby triggering fatigue, mood swings, and aggression. Magnesium supplements are thought to support improvements to ADHD symptoms, but a healthcare provider should be consulted, as magnesium can interact with methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, and amphetamine. 
  3. Omega-3s: The Western diet encompasses high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids, but “…a high dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty ratio could promote neuroinflammation,” confirms an article from Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America. Supplementing with omega-3s is thought to fill in this nutritional gap, and may be promising for improving brain function (i.e. attention), mood, and sleep. 
  4. Probiotics: Studies say that those with ADHD tend to have excessive amounts of Candida albicans in the gut microbiome, which negatively lowers gut diversity. This can boost gut permeability and inflammation (especially neuroinflammation), affecting both mood and concentration. A multi-strain probiotic may be beneficial for helping to handle ADHD; one study of college students with ADHD showed that this supplement led to improvements in symptoms, academic grades, and gastrointestinal symptoms. 
  5. Vitamin D: Further research is needed, though scientists speculate that vitamin D deficiency and ADHD are correlated. Vitamin D is necessary for brain function, so its supplementation may improve serotonin synthesis, helping to regulate both mood and impulsivity. 
  6. Zinc: Dopamine can be low in patients with ADHD, which can impede both mood and motivation. Lacking dopamine can also increase your susceptibility to partake in unnecessary substances; for example, drinking alcohol unhealthily boosts dopamine levels, which can encourage some people to drink more due to dopamine’s pleasurable effects. Therefore, zinc supplementation has the potential to help with regulate dopamine levels. 

Are you interested in these nutrients for ADHD symptoms? You’re welcome to discover our functional medicine clinic services. We can see if these supplements might interact with your prescription medications and check your nutrient levels with functional lab tests. Experience our comprehensive approach to wellness today! 

Suggested reading: Demystifying Gut Facts with Functional Medicine in Toronto

About Our Personalized Integrative Medicine Services

Sometimes we need guidance to reach optimal wellness naturally. Our complementary and natural therapies could help you reach a wellness goal, such as managing ADHD fatigue. Our functional medicine consultations to patients target the root cause of mind-body health concerns, which can help boost energy levels, cellular functioning, and more. 

Take note: an initial consultation is required for getting a treatment plan tailored. At your first appointment, we’ll unravel various components of your daily life (i.e. current lifestyle and environmental factors), along with your medical and genetic history. We may also suggest laboratory testing to scrutinize certain aspects of health, such as your hormonal balance, nutrient levels, oxidative stress levels, gut bacteria, etc. 

As an integrative medicine practice, we combine treatment options so that you can draw from several types of solutions for symptoms. Our healthcare providers can integrate conventional treatment methods with herbal supplementation, various holistic medicine therapies (i.e. holistic nutrition, naturopathic medicine and homeopathic medicine), psychotherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, IV therapy, hormone replacement therapy, and more. We administer drip treatments in our IV Lounge, where you can sit back and reflect on your health goals as you nourish your body with nutrients. When IV therapy is added to a regime of formal health interventions and healthy habits (i.e. balanced diet, exercise), they can contribute to optimal health outcomes. 

A personalized approach to health can help manage a wide variety of symptoms, including concentration issues. Send us a direct message now to secure your first consult at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Abdelnour, E., Jansen, M. O., & Gold, J. A. (2022). ADHD Diagnostic Trends: Increased Recognition or Overdiagnosis? Missouri Medicine, 119(5), 467. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9616454/

“Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adults” from the Cleveland Clinic, reviewed February 15, 2023, viewed on March 4, 2024. 

Bener, A., Kamal, M., Bener, H., & Bhugra, D. (2014). Higher Prevalence of Iron Deficiency as Strong Predictor of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research, 4(Suppl 3), S291. https://doi.org/10.4103/2141-9248.141974

Blum, K., Lih-Chuan Chen, A., Braverman, E. R., Comings, D. E., Chen, T. J., Arcuri, V., Blum, S. H., Downs, B. W., Waite, R. L., Notaro, A., Lubar, J., Williams, L., Prihoda, T. J., Palomo, T., & Oscar-Berman, M. (2008). Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 4(5), 893. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s2627

Gao, X., Lyall, K., Palacios, N., Walters, A. S., & Ascherio, A. (2011). RLS in middle aged women and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in their offspring. Sleep Medicine, 12(1), 89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2010.05.006

H Bloch, D. M., & Mulqueen, M. J. (2014). Nutritional Supplements for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23(4), 883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2014.05.002

Khoshbakht Y, Bidaki R, Salehi-Abargouei A. Vitamin D Status and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Adv Nutr. 2018 Jan 1;9(1):9-20. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmx002. PMID: 29438455; PMCID: PMC6333940.

Lange, K.W., Lange, K.M., Nakamura, Y. et al. Nutrition in the Management of ADHD: A Review of Recent Research. Curr Nutr Rep 12, 383–394 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-023-00487-8

Levy Schwartz, M., Magzal, F., Yehuda, I., & Tamir, S. (2024). Exploring the impact of probiotics on adult ADHD management through a double-blind RCT. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-73874-y

Lopez R, Micoulaud Franchi JA, Chenini S, Gachet M, Jaussent I, Dauvilliers Y. Restless legs syndrome and iron deficiency in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Sleep. 2019 May 1;42(5):zsz027. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsz027. PMID: 30722056.

Effatpanah, M., Rezaei, M., Effatpanah, H., Effatpanah, Z., Varkaneh, H. K., Mousavi, S. M., Fatahi, S., Rinaldi, G., & Hashemi, R. (2019). Magnesium status and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 274, 228-234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.043

“Omega 3s: The Ultimate (ADHD) Brain Food” from ADDitude magazine, updated December 3, 2024, viewed on March 4, 2025. 

Quinn PO, Madhoo M. A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: uncovering this hidden diagnosis. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(3):PCC.13r01596. doi: 10.4088/PCC.13r01596. Epub 2014 Oct 13. PMID: 25317366; PMCID: PMC4195638.

Richarte, V., Corrales, M., Fadeuilhe, C., Arribas, L., Garcia, E., Karina, S., Ribasés, M., & Antoni, J. (2021). Gut microbiota signature in treatment-naïve attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Translational Psychiatry, 11(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01504-6

Steckler, R., Magzal, F., Kokot, M., Walkowiak, J., & Tamir, S. (2024). Disrupted gut harmony in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Dysbiosis and decreased short-chain fatty acids. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health, 40, 100829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100829

“The Magic Mineral: Iron” from ADDitude magazine, updated December 3, 2024, viewed on March 4, 2025.