| Can Fish Oil help in ADHD treatment? Fish oil | | | | Behavioral Pediatrics. In this study, 103 children |
| contains Omega 3 Fatty Acids - EPA and DHA. | | | | were tested - ranging from 7 to 12 years in age. |
| The New York Times mentions that studies have | | | | Some of the children received palm oil, others fish |
| consistently found that children with A.D.H.D. have | | | | oil. Palm oil - being the placebo, did nothing to |
| low blood levels of DHA. Other medical studies | | | | improve hyperactivity symptoms while Omega 3 |
| have shown children with ADHD have higher ratios | | | | supplementation helped almost 50% of the |
| of EPA and arachidonic acid in the blood of than in | | | | children. The NY Times notes though that this |
| children without ADHD. Arachidonic acid is one of | | | | improvement was not noted in teachers' |
| the most common fatty acids present in the brain | | | | assessments. |
| - as is DHA. | | | | In a May 2009 study, Omega-3/Omega-6 Fatty |
| Omega 3 oil is being used by some doctors as a | | | | Acids for ADHD, Doctors and Researchers Mats |
| treatment for ADHD - but the practice is not fully | | | | Johnson, Sven Östlund, Gunnar Fransson, |
| accepted. | | | | Björn Kadesjö, Christopher Gillberg all |
| There are some different views - some doctors | | | | from Göteborg University, Sweden did a |
| have gone for fish oil exclusively, and some | | | | study of 75 children from ages 8-18 with ADHD. |
| doctors will say that using fish oil because it is | | | | In their summary, they state that a majority of |
| new and exciting should not prevent use of | | | | children did not respond to Omega 3/6 |
| traditional therapies. | | | | supplementation. They do, however, state that a |
| Two well known clinical trials, though not | | | | subset of the children, 25% of them, achieved a |
| specifically targeted to classic ADHD, did | | | | 25% reduction in ADHD symptoms. After 6 |
| document the effects of supplementation with | | | | months, 47% of children had responded. They |
| Omega 3 oils on kids and their hyperactivity and | | | | state that a subgroup of children in their study |
| learning. The first in 2005, the Oxford-Durham | | | | responded to fish oil supplementation. It is not |
| study, did find that children benefited significantly | | | | clear how much fish oil was given to these |
| from fishoil supplementation. These were children | | | | children. |
| as young as 18 months old and these children did | | | | In conclusion, fish oil supplementation for ADHD is |
| improve their education levels. | | | | not fully established or accepted in the medical |
| A different Australian clinical trial was published in | | | | community as of the writing of this article, but |
| 2005 in The Journal of Developmental and | | | | results are promising. |