Role of calcium metabolism in ADHD: The relationship between parathyroid hormone and ADHD symptom severity.

Background: Vitamin D has been found to be associated with the pathogenesis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the potential role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is still unclear. Aim: We aimed to investigate the association between calcium metabolism and ADHD symptomatology. Methods: We included 106 participants aged between 7 and 13 years old (51 ADHD patients, mean age: 9.54 ± 1.77, 55 healthy controls mean age: 9.97 ± 0.94) to this study. K-SADS-PL and Conners' Parent/Teacher Rating Scales, Stroop Test were performed. Blood samples to measure serum levels of Vitamin D, PTH, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were collected in the spring (March-April-May) to prevent seasonal variability. Results: PTH, P, and ALP values were significantly lower and Vitamin D, Ca, and Mg values were significantly higher in the ADHD group (P < 0.05, for all). Both groups had Vitamin D deficiency. Control group has lower Vitamin D levels than the ADHD group (respectively; 17.66 ± 9.07, 21.99 ± 10.99, P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between PTH and CTRS hyperactivity, CGI-RI and CGI-EL sub-scores, CGI-Total, DSM-IV-Inattention, DSM-IV Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, DSM-IV-Total scores (P < 0.05, for all). Conclusions: We found lower PTH levels in ADHD patients and a strong and negative correlation between PTH and symptom severity. Future studies are needed to clarify if these findings are due to the key role of PTH in ADHD pathology or PTH's function in activating vitamin D.

Evaluation of child marriage in a Turkish sample: 8 years' data.

This study aims to examine 167 adolescents who were referred by courts between 2008 and 2016 to prepare medical-legal reports on their suitability for marriage. Most were illiterate or graduates of primary/secondary school; only 17 (10.2%) were still at high school. A total of 95 girls (56.9%) had a religious marriage without a civil certificate, 63 girls (37.7%) were pregnant, and 15 (9%) had a child. According to medical reports, 91 of the girls were considered unsuitable for marriage; 76 girls who were pregnant and/or had a child were also considered unsuitable, so it was necessary to let the judge decide.

Nutritional and herbal supplements in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterised by obsessions and compulsions. The recommended treatments for OCD are cognitive- behavioural therapy using exposure and response prevention and/or pharmacotherapy. On the other hand, some nutritional and herbal supplements may be effective in the treatment of OCD. Nutritional and herbal supplements in OCD treatment will be reviewed in this paper. PubMed (Medline), Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases were reviewed for the topic. There are some supplements that have been researched in OCD treatment studies such as vitamin D, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, trace elements, N-acetyl cysteine, glycine, myoinositol, St John's wort, milk thistle, valerian root, curcumin and borage. The effectiveness of herbal and nutritional supplements in the treatment of OCD should be supported with more conclusive evidence.