DHA improves reading and writing skills in those with ADHD
ADHD: Omega 3 DHA to improve reading and writing skills
High levels of Omega 3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in red blood cells improve the writing and reading skills of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (or ADHD syndrome). A study by researchers at the Australian Technology Network Centre for Metabolic Fitness (Australia) published in the journal Nutrition1notes this association. For the authors, this research confirms the hypothesis that increasing Omega-3 consumption may improve attention, literacy and behavior problems in some cases of ADHD syndrome.
Omega-3: an aid against ADHD
Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for the development of the nervous system: their deficiency may be associated precisely withADHD. Studies have shown that thecombined intake of Omega-3 and Omega-6 improves the cognitive abilities and behavioral disorders of boys with this syndrome and with reading difficulties, especially with dyslexia. This new research explored this further by administering Omega-3 to 90 boys aged 9 to 12 years with ADHD disorders. The participants were divided into 3 groups:
- the first received 4 capsules per day of an oil rich in Omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), totaling 1,109 milligrams of EPA and 108 milligrams of DHA;
- In contrast, the second received DHA-rich capsules, totaling 264 milligrams of EPA and 1,032 milligrams of DHA per day;
- the third took 1,467 milligrams of linoleic acid (an Omega-6) every day.
A unique role for EPA and DHA
The researchers after 4 months observed an improvement in reading ability only in those children in whom the levels of DHA present in the red blood cells had increased. Not only that, the parents of these children reported that oppositional behavior, typical of those with this syndrome, was more restrained. The benefits of increased DHA levels were found to be particularly high in children with learning disabilities. Indeed, these children could read and write better and had fewer attention problems. Their parents also observed a reduction in oppositional behavior, hyperactivity, and ADHD symptoms more generally. The effects of taking EPA, however, were not the same: higher levels of this Omega-3 in red blood cells improved anxiety states and shyness. For the authors, these results suggest that EPA and DHA both have a beneficial but distinct effect.
The need for confirmation
The researchers commented on their findings, pointing out that the discordance among the data in the scientific literature leads to speculation that in order to achieve significant benefits, it is important to pay attention to the dose of Omega-3 administered. What now seems certain is that children who suffer from ADHD, and at the same time have difficulty reading and writing, could benefit from taking these fatty acids.
Source:
1. Milte CM, Parletta N, Buckley JD, Coates AM, Young RM, Howe PR, "Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, cognition, and behavior in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A randomized controlled trial," Nutrition. 2012 Jun;28(6):670-7. Epub 2012 Apr 25
