An Interview with Dr Sanjeev Sharma : An Integrated Approach to Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD )
Part 2
This is the second part of an edited transcript of a podcast interview between Dr Adrian Lopresti and Dr Sanjeev Sharma . It is printed here with the kind permission of FX MEDICINE . The first part of the interview appeared in the previous issue of JATMS ( See JATMS 29 ( 1 ): 31-34 ). Part 2 covers :
• Environmental and lifestyle factors that affect neurotransmitter levels
• Connections between inadequate detoxification , foot intolerances and ADHD
• Beneficial integrative , functional and genetic testing
• Testing and dosing Vitamin D , DHEA and Omega-3 levels
• Safely prescribing nutrients in conjunction with stimulant medication
• Summarising key points of the episode
• Organic acid testing
• Beneficial herbs
Sanjeev : Usually , you will see that their [ patients diagnosed with ADHD ] diet is poor and that if the iron level is low in any individual , until proven otherwise , the associated levels of zinc and magnesium will also be low . And you don ' t have to check this , because certain testing like for example , magnesium ( magnesium is a type II nutrient . It is inside the cell ) - so if you ' re going to check for serum levels of magnesium , it is not an appropriate marker unless you have a tissue sample , such as red blood cell magnesium , or 24 hour urinary excretion of magnesium . So your method of testing for this mineral is also very important , and there is a wide variety of these methods . And also looking into associated patterns , because of this concept of a type II nutrient . Practitioners can carry out their own research into these nutrients , which include specifically zinc , potassium , sulphur amino acids , all of which are required for optimal functioning of neurotransmitter production . And they all work on an alkaline pH of 6.8 to 7.2 .
So first , we need , as it were , a raw material , a cofactor , and then we need an adequate environment in which it can work . But if any of the barriers are there , then chances are this process will not occur . So in some of these individuals , there ’ s a possibility that their condition could have been with them since conception . So , if the neurodevelopmental diversity has been long-term , then that ' s the challenge that ’ s presented . And it can be part of the broad range of associated post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) spectrum or autism that could also be there in these individuals .
Adrian : So , I know that when you talk about the insults , there ' s a good body of literature specifically linking ADHD with lead . That ' s one thing that ' s come across in the literature . Smoking also often increases the risk of ADHD . And
92 | vol29 | no2 | JATMS