The relationship between serum ferritine levels and subtypes and the severity of symptoms on non-anemic adult ADHD

Abstract

Objective: To compare serum ferritin levels in non anemic adult patients who were diagnosed as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with a matched healthy control group, and to evaluate the relationship between serum ferritin levels and the severity of ADHD symptoms and ADHD subtypes. Methods: A prospective study was performed on 91 adult non-anemic and cognitively normal ADHD patients (according to the DSM-5 criteria) and 51 healthy controls. They were divided into three subgroups according to the clinical interview and the results of the scale; Group 1, 31 patients with compound type; Group 2, 30 patients with attention deficit subtype; Group 3, 30 patients with impulsivity-hyperactivity subtype. Wender-Utah Rating Scale and Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Assessment Scale were used. Serum ferritin levels were determined. Results: The ferritin levels of the patient groups were found to be significantly lower than the control group. Mean ferritin level was 23 ng/ml in ADHD compound type, 37 ng/ml in attention deficit subtype, 46 ng/ml in hyperactivity and impulsivity subtype, and 65 ng/ml in the control group. Ferritin level was not different between Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 while the ferritin level of the patients in Group 4 (control group) was significantly higher than the other groups. Conclusion: Our findings revealed the low ferritin levels in ADHD patients. Low ferritin levels without anemia may play a role in the pathophysiology of the disorder. Testing for the ferritin levels may be considered during the general evaluation of this disorder.