The essential fatty acid known as Omega-3 has been thoroughly studied in terms of impact on overall health and specific conditions. Research has pointed to both definite and inconclusive effects of adding Omega-3 to the typical American diet, whether through dietary changes or supplements. As the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactive disorder, or ADHD, becomes more common among adults as well as children, people are looking for treatment alternatives. Studies are clear that increasing Omega-3 in your diet can most often lead to positive results in terms of cardiovascular health, while its effects on attention and hyperactivity may not be quite so demonstrable by research.
Definition of Omega-3
One of two major classes of polyunsaturated fatty acids -- the other is Omega-6 -- Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to your body and can only be obtained from food or supplements. Omega-3 is derived from alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA; eicosapentaenoic acide, or EPA; and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. You can get EPA and DHA by eating fatty fish, like salmon, herring, and tuna, from organ meats, wheat germ, walnuts and from algae oil. Your body gets ALA from leafy greens, nuts, flax seed, and vegetable oils like canola and soy. The Institute of Medicine, or IOM, has established that the adult-level of Adequate Intakes for ALA is 1.1 g to 1.6 g per day. While the IOM has not determined how much is EPA or DHA is considered adequate, the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements reports that in a survey covering 1988 to 1994, only 25 percent of the American population reported consuming any EPA or DHA on a given day. However, a later survey in 2007 by the National Center for Health Statistics and NCCAM found that Omega-3 had become the most commonly used nonvitamin/nonmineral supplement taken by adults, and second most common used by children. Increasing your levels of DHA and EPA may lower your triglycerides and blood pressure, slow the rate of atherosclerosis, and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Each type of omega-3 has a job to do in your body, and DHA is the one that factors most heavily in ADHD. Your brain is rich in DHA, which is believed to be involved in helping your neurons transmit signals to each other. DHA also helps to produce compounds that help your brain respond to inflammation.
National Institutes of Health Reviews
The National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements funded eight evidence-based reviews of studies on omega-3 and its use in preventing and treating various specific diseases. The reviews were published in 2004 and 2005. They reviewed 12 studies on cognitive and neurological diseases. While some research pointed at potentially positive impact of Omega-3 on Alzheimer's and other dementia, the NIH determined that substantive conclusions could not yet be drawn.
ADHD and "Western Diets"
A nutritional study published in the "Journal of Attention Disorders" in 2010 revealed that for adolescents, having an ADHD diagnosis was associated with what the researchers called a "Western diet" -- high in fast-foods and sweets, as well as processed, fried and refined foods. The Western diet, as compared to the "Healthy diet" as labeled in this study, is higher in total fat, saturated fat, refined sugar and sodium. Outstanding markers of the study's Healthy Diet are higher omega-3 fatty acids, folate and fiber. The researchers were clear in stating that their study does not determine whether diet leads to ADHD or the other way around, that is, ADHD leads to poor dietary choices and cravings.
The Oxford-Durham Study
Frequently cited in subsequent research, the Oxford-Durham Study was published in "Pediatrics" in May 2005 and concluded that fatty acid supplementation resulted in specific improvements in school children when compared to study subjects using placebo. In fact, after three months of fatty acid supplementation, the number of children who met the clinical diagnosis criteria for ADHD dropped from 32 percent to 18 percent. The research team later announced, in March 2006, similar results from a trial with students aged 12 to 15 years. Another study that used the Oxford-Durham study for a reference was smaller in scope, with only 75 subjects, but aimed specifically at ADHD, rather than related conditions as did the Oxford-Durham. These Swedish researchers concluded that a "meaningful" reduction in ADHD symptoms was observed after three months of supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
General Claims
The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia says that while research shows mixed results about supplementing fish oil in your child's diet, some evidence exists that points to a reduction in severity of ADHD related behavior, like inattention. The RCH fact sheet also states that children with ADHD are more like to have low omega-3 levels, demonstrated by dry skin and hair and excessive thirst, as well as through blood draws. In a study review published in April 2006, physiologist Alexandra J. Richardson -- one of the authors of the Oxford-Durham study -- determined that results from controlled trials of ADHD treatment with omega-3 are mixed, but Richardson asserts the relative safety and other known health benefits of the nutrient warrant further research of omega-3 as a complementary treatment. A PsychCentral review of studies and claims on "Managing ADHD with Diet" describes the ongoing debate on the actual effectiveness of omega-3. In brief, the current stance by most experts is that omega-3 is a safe and otherwise healthful nutrient, it is theoretically believed to impact ADHD particularly in terms of attention and learning, but its use for ADHD does not yet qualify as evidence-based.
References
- Journal of Attention Disorders; "ADHD Is Associated With a 'Western' Dietary Pattern in Adolescents"; A.L. Howard et al.; 2010.
- ScienceDaily: Western Diet Link to ADHD, Australian Study Finds
- Pediatrics; "The Oxford-Durham Study: A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Dietary Supplementation With Fatty Acids in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder"; A.J. Richardson & P. Montgomery; May 2005.
- Durham Research: Using Fatty Acids for Learning Conditions
- Jour of Attention Disorders: "Omega-3/Omega-6 Fatty Acids for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder"; M Johnson et al.; April 2008
- Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne: Fish oils -- What the research says
