| The ADHD community has long been divided over | | | | Genetic and environmental (GxE) effects have been |
| whether environmental factors such as diet, allergies, | | | | shown to in combination play a significant roll in the |
| or environmental toxins affect the symptoms of | | | | expression of symptoms in a number of mental health |
| ADHD. There are individuals who insist that the | | | | conditions. According to a recent study published in the |
| consumption of artificial sweeteners and colors result in | | | | European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; " G x E |
| a greater incidence of the symptoms of ADHD. There | | | | effects have been seen across a wide range of |
| are many studies that indicate that individuals who | | | | mental disorders (e.g., ADHD, anxiety, schizophrenia, |
| consume more Omega-3 fatty acids have a lesser | | | | substance abuse disorder) implicating a wide range of |
| incidence of ADHD and some studies indicate an | | | | measured genes and measured environments." |
| improvement of symptoms using vitamin supplements | | | | The authors of the European Journal article have |
| such as iron or zinc. There are many other individuals | | | | recommended that in order to prevent and treat these |
| who argue that ADHD is genetic and that no diet or | | | | mental illnesses, the interplay of genetics and |
| environmental intervention will alter the expression of | | | | environmental factors must be thoroughly studied. The |
| ADHD symptoms. | | | | studies done to date have been small, un-replicated |
| Much of the scientific community has recently come to | | | | and lacking in specificity regarding genetic phenotypes |
| the conclusion that both of these camps are probably | | | | and environmental risks. Let us hope that larger and |
| wrong. Scientists the world over, in the light of recent | | | | rigorous investigations into the genetic and |
| genetic discoveries, are agreeing that the question of | | | | environmental factors which predispose us to the |
| nature vs. nature is no longer relevant. It is becoming | | | | symptoms of ADHD are performed soon. Once these |
| increasingly clear that it is the interplay of genetic | | | | studies are completed the risks of ADHD will come |
| factors and environmental factors that results in the | | | | into a clearer light. |
| expression of many mental health disease | | | | |