Psychiatry Res. 1990 Sep;33(3):301-6.

Plasma amino acids in attention deficit disorder.

Bornstein RA, Baker GB, Carroll A, King G, Wong JT, Douglass AB.

Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.

This study examines plasma amino acids in a group of 28 patients meeting DSM-III criteria for attention deficit disorder (ADD) and 20 control subjects. Compared with controls, the ADD subjects had significantly lower levels of phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, histidine, and isoleucine. These data suggest a general deficit in amino acid transport, absorption, or both.