ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER AND HAIR HEAVY METAL AND ESSENTIAL TRACE ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS. IS THERE A LINK?

The aim of our study was to assess hair micro-elemental status in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, determine micro-elemental misbalances and heavy metal concentrations and evaluate its impact on child behavior. Case-control study was conducted at Child Development Center of M. Iashvili Children's Central Hospital in 2015-2017years (Tbilisi, Georgia). We studied 70 children, mean age from 6 to 8 year. Target group involved 35 children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder . Control group include 35 children of same age with normal behavior. Groups were homogenous based on different characteristics. To diagnose behavioral problems multi-profile group (pediatrician, neurologist, psychologist) assessment was used and final diagnostic was based on DSM V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders from the American Psychiatric Association) and ICD-10 (International Clasiffication of Desease-10) criteria. Micro-elemental status was detected in the hair, with roentgen-fluorescence spectrometer method (Method MBИ 081/12-4502-000, Apparatus ELVAX-CIP, USA-UKRAIN). We study the content of 27 microelements (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, Se, K, Cr, S , Cl, ,Ag ,V, Ni, Rb, Sr, Mo, Sr,, Pb, Hg, Br, Ti, Ba, As, Zr, Sb, Sn, Cd) in the hair in target and control groups. Computer program SPSS - 21 (Statistical Package for the Social Science - 21; Independent Samples T-Test,) was used for statistical analysis. The results of our study revealed deficiency of major elements (Fe, Mn, Co, Se), in target group and deficiency of zinc and cooper in both (control and target) groups,but the mean concentrations of manganese (sig 0,200; p>0,05), cooper(sig 0,813; p>0,05) and selenium(sig 0,320;p>0,05) does not show significant difference between control and target groups. Only in case of zinc (sig 0,000; p<0,05), iron (sig0,000;p<0,05) and cobalt (sig 0,000; p<0,05) deficiency we got significant values and meaningful associations between microelement's deficiency and ADHD.Our research didn't reveal any changes in other 17 elements (K, Cr, S, Cl, Ag, V, Ni, Rb, Sr, Mo, Sr, Ba, As, Zr, Sb, Sn, Cd) levels. We detected contamination with Pb (lead), Hg(mercury) and Ti (titanium) in both groups , but there were significant difference in Pb (sig 0,000; p<0,05) and Hg (sig 0,000; p<0,05) values between control and study groups, while difference of Ti (sig 0,177; p>0,05) level was not significant. Our study suggests that zinc, iron and cobalt deficiency as well as contamination with high lead and mercury are associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.