Omega-3 fatty acids are present in fish oil, as well as some plant and nut oils. You can consume fish oils either through eating fish or by taking fish oil supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential oils, meaning the human body cannot make them and you need to get them through the food you eat. There is some research that fish oil and the omega-3 fatty acids present in the oil, may have an effect on the symptoms of ADHD. Talk to your doctor before starting any supplements.
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is one of the most common childhood disorders and it can continue through adolescence and adulthood, reports the National Institute of Mental Health. Symptoms include difficulty with focusing and controlling behavior, as well as hyperactivity. Although some symptoms of ADHD tend to decrease with age, some will continue to have ADHD into adulthood.
Omega-3s & ADHD
A 2002 study in "Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry" by Richardson and Puri reports that fatty acid supplements, including those in fish oils, improves thinking and behavior in eight to 12 year old boys with ADHD. A 2006 review of current research by Richardson in the "International Review of Psychiatry" reports that dietary supplementation with fish oil appears to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD in some children. Richardson warns, however, that research does not yet suggest the use of omega-3s as the primary treatment for ADHD, and that more research on the topic is still necessary; however, she does report that given the safety and health benefits of omega-3, they may provide a complementary treatment to more traditional medications.
Sources & Forms
Natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish such as salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines, tuna and herring. Seeds and oils such as flaxseeds, canola oil, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and walnut oil also contain certain types of omega-3 fatty acids. You can also get omega-3 from fish oil capsules.
Doses
Experts have not established doses of omega-3 for children, so the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that children should only take fish oil capsules under the direction of a health care provider. Adults should not take more than 3 g daily of omega-3s from capsules without the permission of a doctor, as doses higher than this can increase your risk of bleeding.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-Linolenic Acid
- MedlinePlus: Fish Oil
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- National Institute of Mental Health: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- "Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry"; A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Effects of Supplementation with Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids on ADHD-Related Symptoms in Children with Specific Learning Difficulties; AJ Richardson & BK Puri; 2002
- "International Review of Psychiatry"; Omega-3 Fatty Acids in ADHD and Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders; April 2006
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