PLASMA SELENIUM IN CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

The selenium (Se) level in blood serum of 32 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 14 healthy school children aged from 6,5 to 1 0 years was estimated by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. The hypothesis of Se deficiency in connection with neurological signs was postulated. There was no significant difference between the groups in weight, height or plasma Se content (ADHD 56.75 +/- 12.87 mug Se/l and controls 55.71 +/- 16.44 mug Se/l P.N.S.). Further studies are needed to obtain more information on selenium content and feeding mode during the neonatal period.