| Is Omega 3 a natural remedy for ADHD? The | | | | The active fish oil group also saw |
| simple answer is no. Omega 3 is an essential | | | | significantly reduced teacher ratings on the |
| fatty acid that is absolutely vital for | | | | Conners DSM ADHD global scale after 3 months, |
| adults, hence the word essential - for | | | | compared with the placebo group. The placebo |
| children of birth age until age two, it is | | | | group saw similar improvements on this scale |
| even more important that they receive enough | | | | after crossing over to the active fish oils |
| of the Omega 3 fatty acid DHA for the healthy | | | | for the 3-6 month period of the trial. |
| construction of the brain. Beyond two years, | | | | |
| they need EPA for the healthy function of the | | | | Within 3 months children on the active |
| brain. | | | | supplement saw a significant reduction on the |
| | | | rating scale of Hyperactive-Impulsive |
| So why is it not a remedy? It is not a remedy | | | | behaviour, compared to those on placebo. |
| for the simple reason that it should already | | | | Further reductions were seen in the 3-6 month |
| be included in the diet, and not simply as an | | | | period of the study. |
| afterthought to add it to the diet because | | | | |
| the child or adult has ADHD. | | | | Dramatic results were also seen within just 3 |
| | | | months of the dyspraxia trial. The active |
| Does this mean that if you give a person with | | | | group supplementing with Omega 3 fish oil saw |
| ADHD high-strength pharmaceutical grade fish | | | | significant improvements in reading (9.5 |
| oil in addition to a poor diet, they will not | | | | months), spelling (6.5 months) and behaviour, |
| feel any effects? The answer has to be yes, | | | | compared to the placebo group where no |
| of course they will feel the effects. If you | | | | overall improvement was made. |
| starve anyone for long enough of vital | | | | |
| nutrients then the body will react in certain | | | | During the 3-6 month period when the placebo |
| ways if you then replace those nutrients, | | | | group crossed over to Omega 3 fish oil |
| the body will return in time to its correct | | | | supplementation, considerable improvements |
| balance. | | | | were shown in the same areas, with an average |
| | | | reading gain of 13.5 months and an average |
| What is ADHD? A good definition is as | | | | spelling gain at over 6 months. The active |
| follows: | | | | group continuing supplementation displayed |
| | | | further signs of progress or maintained their |
| A common developmental and behavioural | | | | improvement. |
| disorder, it is characterised by poor | | | | |
| concentration, distractibility, | | | | At the start of the trial, children were a |
| hyperactivity, and impulsiveness that are | | | | year behind their chronological age for |
| inappropriate for the child's age. Children | | | | reading and spelling, but after the trial, |
| and adults with ADHD are easily distracted by | | | | the active group who had been on Omega 3 fish |
| sights and sounds in their environment, | | | | oil throughout the trial made spelling and |
| cannot concentrate for long periods of time, | | | | reading gains over and above their age. |
| are restless and impulsive, or have a | | | | |
| tendency to daydream and be slow to complete | | | | An alternative view |
| tasks. | | | | |
| | | | On the face of things these results look |
| Fish oil supplementation | | | | fairly conclusive. However, when you take |
| | | | into account that by their own admission they |
| With current research revealing that Omega 3 | | | | had a real battle with the children (and in |
| fatty acid deficiencies may be a factor | | | | some cases parents) to change their eating |
| affecting learning difficulties, authorities | | | | habits then the results - to a qualified |
| in Durham, England, initiated a programme to | | | | dietician and anyone who knows what a |
| see if it was possible that an improved diet | | | | balanced diet is swing. Far from seeming to |
| would lead to improvements in the classroom. | | | | show that fish oil cures ADHD and dyspraxia, |
| But overturning the high-carbohydrate, | | | | it rather appears to demonstrate the need for |
| heavily-processed diets that children | | | | a very balanced diet, with all these |
| typically consume was going to be a momentous | | | | nutritional components included in the first |
| task. So they decided to see if fatty acids | | | | place. |
| in the form of a fish oil supplement could be | | | | |
| of any use. | | | | What would be far more interesting than |
| | | | turning a lot of unruly childrens diets into |
| This was the largest and most extensive trial | | | | the correct balance and then claiming that |
| looking at Omega 3 fatty acids and learning | | | | fish oil helps with ADHD, would be to take a |
| conditions to be carried out within the | | | | lot of children who eat a very balanced |
| United Kingdom. | | | | Mediterranean style diet, which is already |
| | | | very balanced, and perform a trial with those |
| This trial involved more than 100 children at | | | | children to see if it actually improves their |
| 12 primary schools in the Durham area. The | | | | reading or spelling ability. |
| trial looked at dyspraxia and motor skills, | | | | |
| but also assessed for dyslexia and ADHD. | | | | Conclusion |
| | | | |
| Trial results | | | | Not all the children involved in the trial |
| | | | showed great gains in behaviour, spelling and |
| At the start of the trial, the percentage of | | | | reading, and those children that did show |
| children within the clinical range of an ADHD | | | | great gains were in my opinion children who |
| diagnosis was set at 32% for the fish oil | | | | were very badly deficient in Omega 3 already |
| group and 31% for the placebo group. | | | | through a very poor diet. |
| | | | |
| After 3 months of omega 3 fish oil | | | | The correct approach is not to supplement |
| supplementation, the percentage of children | | | | children with fish oil, but to drastically |
| within the clinical range of an ADHD | | | | improve the childs eating habits, following |
| diagnosis reduced to 18% for the fatty acid | | | | the example of a Mediterranean diet which |
| group, whereas this only dropped 1 % for the | | | | includes oily fish, and trying to cut out all |
| placebo group. | | | | additives and preservatives and the wrong |
| | | | kinds of bad fats. |
| A raw score was calculated from the teacher | | | | |
| rating form that assessed each child's | | | | As most parents will know this is almost an |
| behaviour. After 3 months there was a highly | | | | impossibility, but changing a few little |
| significant reduction seen in the fish oil | | | | things about the diet will make a difference. |
| supplement group, compared to those on | | | | As for the fish oil capsules, if you really |
| placebo, in this behavioural score. The fatty | | | | cant get your child to eat oily fish then as |
| acid group reduced from an average score of | | | | this trial proves, supplementing with a high |
| 74.7 to 58.1., whereas the before and after | | | | quality fish oil supplement is highly |
| treatment scores for the placebo group were | | | | advisable so that your child can get the |
| 69.5 and 67.9. | | | | correct amount of Omega 3 in their diet. |
| | | | |