EPA supplementation improves teacher-rated behaviour and oppositional symptoms in children with ADHD (original) (raw)
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Nutrition Journal, 2007
Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurological condition in children. This pilot study evaluated the effects of high-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on the isolated plasma phospholipids and behavior in children with ADHD (primarily inattentive subtype and combined subtype). Methods Nine children were initially supplemented with 16.2 g EPA/DHA concentrates per day. The dosage was adjusted dependent on the ratio of arachidonic acid (AA) to EPA in the isolated plasma phospholipids at four weeks to reach a level normally found in the Japanese population. Results At the end of the eight-week study, supplementation resulted in significant increases in EPA and DHA, as well as a significant reduction in the AA:EPA ratio (20.78 ± 5.26 to 5.95 ± 7.35, p < 0.01). A psychiatrist (blind to supplement compliance or dosage modifications) reported significant improvements in behavior (inattention, hyperac...
Journal of Attention Disorders, 2013
Citation: Milte CM, Parletta N*, Buckley JD, Coates AM, Young RM, Howe PRC (2013). Increased erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are associated with improved attention and behaviour in children with ADHD in a 12-month randomised controlled three-way crossover trial. Abstract Objective: To investigate effects of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on attention, literacy and behaviour in children with ADHD. Method: Ninety children were randomised to consume supplements high in EPA, DHA or linoleic acid (control) for four months each in a cross-over design. Erythrocyte fatty acids, attention, cognition, literacy and Conners' Parent Rating Scales were measured at 0, 4, 8, 12 months. Results: Fifty three children completed. Outcome measures showed no significant differences between the 3 treatments. However, in children with blood samples (n=76-46), increased erythrocyte EPA+DHA was associated with improved spelling (r=.365, p<.001) and attention (r=-.540, p<.001) and reduced oppositional behaviour (r=-.301, p.003), hyperactivity (r=-.310, p<.001), cognitive problems (r=-.326, p<.001), DSM-IV hyperactivity (r=-.270, p=.002) and DSM-IV inattention (r=-.343, p<.001). Conclusion: Increasing erythrocyte DHA and EPA via dietary supplementation may improve behaviour, attention and literacy in children with ADHD.
Nutrition, 2012
Objective: To investigate effects of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on attention, literacy and behaviour in children with ADHD. Method: Ninety children were randomised to consume supplements high in EPA, DHA or linoleic acid (control) for four months each in a cross-over design. Erythrocyte fatty acids, attention, cognition, literacy and Conners' Parent Rating Scales were measured at 0, 4, 8, 12 months. Results: Fifty three children completed. Outcome measures showed no significant differences between the 3 treatments. However, in children with blood samples (n=76-46), increased erythrocyte EPA+DHA was associated with improved spelling (r=.365, p<.001) and attention (r=-.540, p<.001) and reduced oppositional behaviour (r=-.301, p.003), hyperactivity (r=-.310, p<.001), cognitive problems (r=-.326, p<.001), DSM-IV hyperactivity (r=-.270, p=.002) and DSM-IV inattention (r=-.343, p<.001). Conclusion: Increasing erythrocyte DHA and EPA via dietary supplementation may improve behaviour, attention and literacy in children with ADHD.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Improves Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children, 2022
Background: Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders in children. Increasing evidence suggests an association between omega-3 fatty acid and ADHD. We aimed to investigate the effects of 6-month omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the fatty-acid profile of erythrocytes and on the clinical severity of ADHD symptoms in children. Methods: Recruitment included 32 children aged 6-14 years diagnosed with ADHD at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Ziv Medical Center, Israel. Intervention included refrigerated omega-3 fatty acid supplementation normalized to body weight. Blood samples were taken at baseline, 3 and 6 months after intervention for quantification of fatty acids from erythrocyte membranes. ADHD symptoms were assessed by parents and teachers according to the ADHD Rating-Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. ADHD severity was additionally assessed by a psychiatrist according to the Clinical Global Impressions Scale. Results: Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid in children with ADHD raised their omega-3 index statistically significantly from an average of 4.4% omega-3 index at baseline to 11.6% after 6 months and had beneficial effects on ADHD symptoms, as measured by validated questionnaires and in accordance with a pediatric psychiatrist examination. Conclusion: Our pilot study showed that dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid increased the blood omega-3 index levels and improved ADHD symptoms even at the midpoint of 3 months.
2016
An abnormality in long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) levels has been implicated in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Studies evaluating LC-PUFA supplementation for therapeutic efficacy in ADHD have shown mixed and therefore inconclusive results. Seventy-six male adolescents (aged 12 -16 years, M =13. 7 ) with ADHD were assessed for the effects of 12 weeks omega-3 and omega-6 supplements on biochemical and psychological outcomes in a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. The primary outcome measure was change in the Conners’ Teacher Rating Scales (CTRS) following 12 weeks of supplementation of LC-PUFA or placebo. At baseline, the placebo and treatment groups had comparable levels of LC-PUFA as measured by red blood cell phosphatidylcholine. In the treatment group, supplementation enhanced eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total omega-3 fatty acid levels. No superiority of LC-PUFAs to placebo was observed on the primary o...
Neuropsychopharmacology, 2015
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common child psychiatric disorders, and is often treated with stimulant medication. Nonpharmacological treatments include dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, although their effectiveness remains to be shown conclusively. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on ADHD symptoms and cognitive control in young boys with and without ADHD. A total of 40 boys with ADHD, aged 8-14 years, and 39 matched, typically developing controls participated in a 16-week double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Participants consumed 10 g of margarine daily, enriched with either 650 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) each or placebo. Baseline and follow-up assessments addressed ADHD symptoms, fMRI of cognitive control, urine homovanillic acid, and cheek cell phospholipid sampling. EPA/DHA supplementation improved parent-rated attention in both children with ADHD and typically developing children. Phospholipid DHA level at follow-up was higher for children receiving EPA/DHA supplements than placebo. There was no effect of EPA/DHA supplementation on cognitive control or on fMRI measures of brain activity. This study shows that dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids reduces symptoms of ADHD, both for individuals with ADHD and typically developing children. This effect does not appear to be mediated by cognitive control systems in the brain, as no effect of supplementation was found here. Nonetheless, this study offers support that omega-3 supplementation may be an effective augmentation for pharmacological treatments of ADHD (NCT01554462: The Effects of EPA/DHA Supplementation on Cognitive Control in Children with ADHD; http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/ NCT01554462).
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 2007
Methods: Various developmental problems including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been linked to biological deficiencies in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Additionally, there is evidence that symptoms may be reduced with PUFA supplementation. This study investigated effects of supplementation with PUFAs on symptoms typically associated with ADHD. Because nutrients work synergistically, additional effects of micronutrient supplementation were also investigated. A total of 132 Australian children aged 7 to 12 years with scores >2 SD above the population average on the Conners ADHD Index participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention over 15 weeks, taking PUFAs alone, PUFAs ؉ micronutrients, or placebo. Due to unreturned questionnaires, data were only available for 104 children. Results: Significant medium to strong positive treatment effects were found on parent ratings of core ADHD symptoms, inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, on the Conners Parent Rating Scale (CPRS) in both PUFA treatment groups compared with the placebo group; no additional effects were found with the micronutrients. After a one-way crossover to active supplements in all groups for a further 15 weeks, these results were replicated in the placebo group, and the treatment groups continued to show significant improvements on CPRS core symptoms. No significant effects were found on Conners Teacher Rating Scales. Conclusion: These results add to preliminary findings that ADHD-related problems with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity might respond to treatment with PUFAs and that improvements may continue with supplementation extending to 30 weeks. (J Dev Behav Pediatr 28:82-91, 2007) Index terms: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, attention, behavior, polyunsaturated fatty acids, micronutrients.
Paediatrics & child health, 2009
Although several clinical trials have evaluated the impact of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) on patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), changes in plasma PUFA composition were not always assessed following n-3 supplementation. Furthermore, no reports are available on the efficacy of n-3 PUFA in Canadian youth with ADHD. To determine fatty acid (FA) composition, and the efficacy and safety of n-3 PUFA supplementation on ADHD clinical symptoms in French Canadian primary school children. The Strengths and Weaknesses in ADHD and Normal Behaviors (SWAN) and Conners' questionnaires were used to assess changes in ADHD symptoms in 37 children (only 26 children completed the study from zero to 16 weeks). They were divided into two groups (A and B), and participated in a 16-week, double-blind, one-way, crossover randomized study. In the first phase, group A received the n-3 PUFA supplement and group B received n-6 PUFA (sunflower oil) as a placebo. During the...
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may persist into adolescence and adulthood. It is suggested that insufficient nutritional supply of LC-PUFAs (long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids) and minerals (including serum levels of zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium and copper) may develop ADHD symptoms. However, clear and convincing evidence is lacking. Subjects in the present report were boys with moderate ADHD symptoms who were categorized into control group (C; mean age: 8.34 years), ADHD group (mean age: 8.72 years), and ADHD-O group (or ADHD-supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids (mean age: 8.69 years). Significant reduction in serum zinc, iron, magnesium and calcium in ADHD group without omega-3 supplementation compared to healthy control subjects, and significant increase in these nutrient bioelements after omega-3 supplementation in ADHD reaching to the levels found in healthy non-ADHD control subjects were the findings in our present study. Although the definite cause/ causes of ADHD are not yet known, omega-3 and other long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) seem promising in understanding the pathophysiology and exploring additional management of ADHD.
Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 2008
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent behavioral disorder in children and the pathophysiology remains obscure. In addition to the pharmacotherapy, which is the primary treatment of ADHD, nutritional intervention may have a significant impact on ADHD symptoms. We studied lipid and lipoprotein profiles, fatty acid (FA) composition, and oxidant-antioxidant status in 37 pediatric ADHD patients and 35 healthy control subjects. Our results show that plasma triacylglycerols and phospholipids were lower, whereas free cholesterol, HDL, and apolipoprotein A-I were higher in ADHD patients compared with controls. The proportion of plasma EPA and DHA was higher, but that of oleic and a-linolenic (ALA) acids was lower. As expected from these findings, the proportions of both total saturates and polyunsaturates fatty acids (PUFA) were higher and lower, respectively, in ADHD patients than in controls, which led to a significant decrease in the PUFAs/saturates ratio. On the other hand, the ratios of eicosatrienoic acid to arachidonic acid and of palmitoleic acid to linoleic acid, established indexes of essential fatty acid (EFA) status remained unchanged revealing that EFA did not affect ADHD patients. Similarly, the activity of delta-6 desaturase, estimated by the ratio of 18:2(n-6)/ 20:4(n-6), was found unaffected, whereas ALA/EPA was diminished. Lessened lipid peroxidation was noted in ADHD subjects as documented by the diminished values of plasma malondialdehyde accompanied by increased concentrations of g-tocopherol. In conclusions, significant changes occur in the lipid and lipoprotein profiles, as well as in the oxidant-antioxidant status of ADHD patients, however, the FA distribution does not reflect n-3 FA deficiency.