How Does Omega 3 Oils Relate To Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) In Children?

Childhood and even adult ADHD is an increasingly recognised or diagnosed problem in Western society.

But how does omega 3 fatty acids relate to ADD or ADHD symptoms?

There has been a few different types of medical studies on how ADHD and these essential fatty acids relate.

Some include:

1. Studies looking at what the blood levels of omega 3 fats are in children with, and without ADHD to see if there’s a difference.

2. Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trials where omega 3 fatty acids are compared to placebo as a treatment or remedy for ADHD symptoms. These are considered the better type of studies as it measures what the effect is by treating ADD (ADHD) with omega 3.

There was a study in Korea looking at the differences in blood levels of omega 3 and 6 and other oils in 58 children with ADHD and those without this diagnosis.

In terms of dietary intake, they found that there as no difference in intake of omega 3, but those with ADHD had higher intakes of iron and vitamin C.

However the study found that blood levels of linoleic acid (omega 6), arachidonic acid (omega 6), and docosahexaenoic acid (omega 3) were significantly lower in those with ADHD than those without.

Their conclusion was that “the fatty acid composition of phospholipid from RBC membranes in the ADHD children differed from that of the normal children.”

In terms of other nutrients, it was found that “the blood total protein content in subjects with ADHD was significantly lower than that in control subjects” but on the other hand, "children with ADHD had significantly higher blood iron levels compared to the control children.”

So there seems to be a correlation suggested here between lower levels of omega 3 in the blood and the diagnosis of ADHD.

The dietary intake was similar in both groups, so it is still being speculated whether children with ADHD can’t metabolise or absorb omega 3 as well as normal children can.

This however is still being studied.

Perhaps on a more practical side, studies are looking at whether treatment of ADHD with omega 3s are improving the symptoms and behaviour of children with ADHD.

Reference:

J Nutr Biochem. Dietary patterns and blood fatty acid composition in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in Taiwan. 2004 Aug;15(8):467-72.