Nutrition Review: Lipid Technology 7/2010

✍ Scribed by Julie Miller Jones

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 252 KB
• Volume: 22
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0956-666X
• DOI: 10.1002/lite.201000037

✦ Synopsis

Omega-3 fats and hyperactivity in children

Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the serum of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) predicted whether supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids would reduce symptoms. In a 15-week randomized clinical trial, ninety-two 7-12 year olds received either 0.5 g of eicosapentenoic acids (EPA) supplements or a placebo. Nearly half the subset of children labeled as , oppositional' improved their parent-teacher ratings on inattention and their cognitive scales on Conner's standardized ADHD rating scales if they received the EPA supplement. Improvement was seen in only 9% of children receiving the placebo. In the subset of children noted as , less hyperactive or impulsive', supplementation with EPA improved ratings in 36% of the children, but also administration of the placebo improved ratings in 18% so there were no significant differences between the groups. If children had both types of symptoms, 8 of 13 showed improved scores with EPA while only 1 of 9 with the placebo improved. This was a significant difference. EPA supplementation appeared to be effective in reducing symptoms in many children with ADHD documented to have low serum EPA levels at baseline. Supplementation was especially effective for those with more severe or multiple symptoms.