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Reply to: The Geographic Variation in the Prevalence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder the United States is Likely Due to Geographical Variations of Solar Ultraviolet B Doses and Race

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Check out this Knowledge Base article from StressTherapy Solutions: Reply to: The Geographic Variation in the Prevalence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder the United States is Likely Due to Geographical Variations of Solar Ultraviolet B Doses and Race.

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Study at a glance

Area
ADHD & Attention
Study type
Observational study
Authors
Arns M, van der Heijden KB, Eugene Arnold L, Leon Kenemans J
Journal
Biological Psychiatry
Year
2014
Protocol
reanalysis of state-level ADHD prevalence and solar intensity data

Key findings

  • Adding percentage of African American residents per state did not change the correlations between solar intensity and ADHD prevalence (2003: r = -0.637 to -0.639; 2007: r = -0.580 to -0.597)
  • Several states with small African American populations had above-average ADHD prevalence
  • U.S. trends in vitamin D deficiency and milk fortification did not match the rise in reported ADHD prevalence from 7.8% (2003) to 9.5% (2007)
  • Cites genetic, circadian phase delay, light therapy and melatonin evidence supporting a circadian role in ADHD

DOI 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.05.033 → PubMed 23830663 →

Replying to a letter that proposed vitamin D from solar ultraviolet B light and race explain geographic differences in ADHD prevalence across the United States, the authors defend their view that sunlight affects ADHD mainly through the circadian system. Rerunning their state-level analysis with the percentage of African American residents as a covariate left the link between solar intensity and ADHD prevalence essentially unchanged, and they find little published or trend data tying vitamin D to ADHD. The authors judge the circadian hypothesis most plausible but say further research must test both ideas.