Child attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: omega-3 supplements alleviate symptoms
ADHD: omega-3s, a great help for the condition that affects children and adolescents
High levels of Omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in red blood cells promote attention, literacy, and improve behavior in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The same results can be observed when, in erythrocytes, the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 concentration decreases.
This was discovered by researchers from the Sanson Institute for Health Research at the University of South-Australia, Adelaide, conducting a study in which they compared the effects on ADHD of EPA and DHA. The results of the research were published in the journal Journal of Attention and Disorder.
Omega-3 and brain health
Numerous studies show that Omega-3s improve brain development and cognitive function, they are in fact essential components of the nervous system. In particular, DHA makes up as much as 30 percent of the brain. It is a component of the membranes of neurons and helps regulate their growth, stability, and communication with other neuronal cells. Omega-3 deficiency appears to be associated with numerous brain dysfunctions such as Alzheimer's in adults, or behavioral and learning disorders in children. In this regard, supplements containing EPA and DHA have been shown to improve symptoms of neuropsychological disorders typical of childhood. The study authors themselves, in an earlier publication in the journal Nutrition, reported how increased DHA in red blood cells was associated with improved literacy in children with learning disabilities. Omega-3 supplements also appear to play a positive role in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a developmental defect characterized by concentration difficulties and motor hyperactivity, due to altered transport of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine.
EPA and DHA improve the symptoms of ADHD
Dr. Parletta, who directed the study, and her colleagues recruited 90 children with ADHD who were randomly divided into three groups. One followed daily supplementation with fish oil containing 1109 mg EPA and 108 mg DHA. In contrast, the second group received fish oil supplementation containing 1032 mg of DHA and 264 mg of EPA. The third group, the control group, was given a safflower oil supplement consisting of 1467 mg linoleic acid. Each group followed the treatment for 4 months, then changing supplements for another 4 and so on so as to receive all three types of oil At the 'beginning of the trial and after 4, 8, and 12 months, erythrocyte levels of fatty acids were measured in each child, and cognitive, learning, and behavioral characteristics were assessed using specific tests. Initial observations, obtained on 53 children, showed no significant difference between the three groups. Subsequent analyses, however, demonstrated a relationship between high levels of Omega-3 in red blood cells and improved attention, language use and hyperactivity. In addition, a decrease in the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 also appeared to correlate with an overall improvement in ADHD symptoms.
The importance of blood tests
Based on the results, the researchers hypothesized that supplementation with EPA and DHA may improve behavior and attention in individuals with the deficiency. In particular, the beneficial action seems to be mainly due to DHA, contrasting with previous studies in which EPA seemed more effective This research highlights the importance of confirming treatment results on blood samples, thus assessing the variation in nutrient concentration from basal level, which is different from individual to individual. In addition, it must be taken into account that Omega-3 metabolism is also not the same in all subjects. This would explain why, in the study, individuals in the same treatment group, did not show the same levels of DHA and EPA Also in the research conducted by Schoentaler in 2007, supplementation with vitamins and minerals, in young people with habitual aggressive behavior, did not change the behavior of those in whom the blood concentration of minerals and vitamins remained unchanged. Instead, a significant reduction in aggression was visible in subjects in whom the concentration, in red blood cells, of minerals and vitamins increased. Based on these results, the task for researchers will be to confirm the beneficial effect of DHA by conducting intervention studies that take into account inter-individual differences.
Source: Milte CM, Parletta N, Buckley JD, Coates AM, Young RM, Howe PR. "Increased Erythrocyte Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid Are Associated With Improved Attention and Behavior in Children With ADHD in a Randomized Controlled Three-Way Crossover Trial." J Atten Disord. 2013 Nov 8. doi:10.1177/1087054713510562
