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This is from Dr. Sears' newsletter!
Apr. 14 - Omega-3's ADHD Benefit Claims Boosted By Clinical Trial
Omega-3 supplementation led to significant improvements of children with learning and behavioral problems, adding important data to this high profile subject.
A number of studies have reported similar results and this led to calls by some for omega-3 supplementation of school children. Indeed, the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) last year reviewed the science in this field but ultimately decided against such measures, stating the evidence was insufficient. In many cases these studies were said to lack quality in research methodology and reporting, and failed to account for confounders.
But studies like the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics could lead to a rethink in this stance.
Lead author of the new study Nathalie Sinn told NutraIngredients.com that while omega-3 fatty acids appear critical for healthy brain development and health, efficacy in enhancing the learning and behavior of children in the general population had not been investigated in a clinical trial.
"Between one in five and one in 10 children suffer learning and behavior problems and these can cause significant problems for these children, their learning, parents, teachers and schools, and can persist into adulthood," she said.
"Therefore I would deem any consideration of this research and indeed any research that demonstrates possible benefits for learning in school children with improved nutrition and diet by policy makers to be a positive step."
The new study from the University of South Australia recruited 132 kids with ADHD aged 7 to 12 for the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention study. One hundred and four children completed the trial.
For the first 15 weeks of study, the kids were given daily supplements of either polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6, 3000 milligrams per day), PUFAs plus multivitamins and minerals, or placebo capsules (palm oil).
After 15 weeks all the groups crossed-over to the PUFA plus multivitamins and minerals supplement.
The supplement, provided by Equazen Nutraceuticals, was derived from high-EPA marine fish oil and virgin evening primrose oil (GLA). The eyeq capsules formulation contained Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), GLA, and vitamin E.
Parents were asked to rate their child's condition after 15 and 30 weeks with the 14 ADHD scales of the Conner's Parent Rating Scales. After 15 weeks of eyeq supplements, improvements were recorded in half of these scales.
After 30 weeks (placebo group switching to eyeq supplements) the parental ratings of behavior improved significantly in nine out of 14 scales.
No significant improvements were recorded in the Conners Teacher Ratings Scale, but the researchers state that parental ratings are considered more accurate for identifying ADHD in children than teachers.
"The present study is the largest PUFA trial to date with children falling in the clinical ADHD range on Conners Index. The result supports those of other studies that have found improvements in developmental problems symptomatic of ADHD with PUFA supplementation," wrote Sinn.
"These results have significant implications for children with ADHD-related symptoms, parents, and clinicians."
Dr. Sinn said that many questions remain unanswered. "This work needs to be replicated in other scientifically controlled trials in populations of children with different constellations of symptoms and other developmental disorders that overlap with ADHD," she told this website.
"We need more understanding about biological mechanisms, degree of relative PUFA deficiency and which children are most likely to respond, and also the relative importance of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and the inclusion of omega-6 fatty acid GLA, in the supplement that has received successful outcomes in the UK and Adelaide trials."
She added that a new trial would be starting this year to continue this work, with the taking of blood and urine samples to gain more understanding of fatty acid and biological metabolic profiles of responders versus non-responders, extending neuropsychological assessments to gain more understanding of cognitive and learning benefits, and comparing EPA with DHA.
"This will be a 12-month 3-way crossover trial, from which we hope to release baseline data of fatty acid profiles by the end of this year and final results of the intervention in 2009," she said.
Source: Journal of Developmental & Behavioural Pediatrics
Volume 28, Pages 82-91
"Effect of supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids and micronutrients on learning and behavior problems associated with child ADHD"
Authors: N. Sinn, J. Bryan
Dr. Jim's Comments: "We've been recommending Omega-3 supplements for many years now for anyone that doesn't eat fish three times per week. It's great to see a study like this because it helps convince parents that diet is just as important as a prescription when dealing with ADD/ADHD."
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This is great! It's one of the things my friend recommends to the parents!
I'm going to fwd this to her so she can present it to the parents.
Thanks for sharing!
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Great article! Just another benefit of the omega fatty acids. My ADHD boy takes 1 tsp of Nordic Naturals cod liver oil/day & my NT dd takes 2 capsules of Nordic Naturals Omega 3-6-9. When my youngest NT dd turns 4, she will take the capsules, too. We don't eat enough fish (I'm worried about the mercury) & Nordic Naturals is triple distilled for purity.
I'm not sure if it is really making a difference, behaviorally, for ds since he's been consistently taking the cod liver oil for 2 years. His behavior has improved but I cannot say if it's a result of the omegas, maturity, therapy, etc. Because it's good for his health in general, I would still give it to him if it did nothing for his behavior.
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I've been giving my son Omega 3-6-9 Junior from Nordic Natural for a while now. I haven't been as consistent as I should be, though. I need to get on the stick with that. I may try a liquid next time since he doesn't like the chewables and I have to poke them open and squeeze them into a cup.
I just started taking the Omegas myself (I take Omega 3-6-9 Complete from Nordic Naturals as well). They're really a supplement that can benefit everyone.
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This is the second time in the last few days that I have heard someone mention the Nordic Naturals brand. My son and I are not huge fish fans and I would like to start both of us on this. Where can I find this brand? Thank you!
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You can buy Nordic directly from them - if you google Nordic Naturals you will find them. I buy mine through Kirkman's because I order other vitamins there for ds anyway at the same time. I've also seen it at Sprouts. It is a good brand, recommended by ds' doctor.
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Originally Posted by desertmom
You can buy Nordic directly from them - if you google Nordic Naturals you will find them. I buy mine through Kirkman's because I order other vitamins there for ds anyway at the same time. I've also seen it at Sprouts. It is a good brand, recommended by ds' doctor.
Thank you very much!!
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Originally Posted by Shannon/Bryce
Thank you very much!!
I've been buying ours from The Vitamin Shoppe (brick & mortar and on-line). They also have a rewards card.
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Originally Posted by goodnightmoon
I've been buying ours from The Vitamin Shoppe (brick & mortar and on-line). They also have a rewards card.
Thank you! I have ordered from them before, they carry bath products that we use too. I think I will get an order together to save on shipping. Thanks!!
I see from previous posts that there is a child's formula of this..? My son is 2 and just under 30 pounds. I don't want to over-fish him!
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Has anyone tried fresh ground Flax Seed as an omega supplement? I was just introduced to it this past weekend and heard from a woman who was giving it to her son with ADD and saw remarkable improvements. I don't medicate my son with Tourette Syndrome and he has multiple rage attacks daily. I'm going to give the Flax Seed a try. From what I have found, you grind it up and just add it to whatever they're eating. He actually ate it straight off a spoon! At this point I'm willing to try anyting (other than medication) and I know it can't hurt him.