The Association between Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Eugene Merzon*, Eli Magen, Shai Ashkenazi, Abraham Weizman, Iris Manor, Beth Krone, Ilan Green, Avivit Golan-Cohen, Shlomo Vinker, Stephen V. Faraone, Ariel Israel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, impacting 4.9% of the population and more prevalent in Mediterranean communities, is a common enzymopathy with potential relevance to Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study investigated this association. Methods: The clinical characteristics of 7473 G6PD-deficient patients and 29,892 matched case–controls (selected at a 1:4 ratio) from a cohort of 1,031,354 within the Leumit Health Services database were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables. Results: In total, 68.7% were male. The mean duration of follow-up was 14.3 ± 6.2 years at a mean age of 29.2 ± 22.3 years. G6PD deficiency was associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with ADHD (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.16 [95% CI, 1.08–1.25], p < 0.001), seeking care from adult neurologists (OR = 1.30 [95% CI, 1.22–1.38], p < 0.001), and consulting adult psychiatrists (OR = 1.12 [95% CI, 1.01–1.24], p = 0.048). The use of stimulant medications among G6PD-deficient individuals was 17% higher for the methylphenidate class of drugs (OR = 1.17 [95% CI, 1.08, 1.27], p < 0.001), and there was a 16% elevated risk for amphetamine use (OR = 1.16 [95% CI, 1.03, 1.37], p = 0.047). Conclusions: G6PD deficiency signals an increased risk of ADHD diagnosis, more severe presentations of ADHD and a greater need for psychiatric medications to treat ADHD.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4948
JournalNutrients
Volume15
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2023

Keywords

  • attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
  • mental health
  • neurodevelopmental disorder
  • neuroinflammation
  • oxidative stress
  • somatic

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