Research on Fish Oils and ADHD: Is this an alternative to Ritalin?

What does the research show on fish oils and ADHD treatment?

Is this a natural remedy for ADHD?

Let's take a look at some of the research on using fish oils and omega 3 fatty acids in treating some neurological conditions in children.

The National Institute of Health estimates 3 to 5 percent of children in the United States (about 2 million children) have Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD).

Primary symptoms of ADHD are:

• Inability to pay attention
• Hyperactivity
• Impulsive behavior

Conventional treatment for ADHD consists of medication, behavioral treatment, or a combination of both.

So where do fish oils and omega 3 fatty acids fit in this picture?

Research has proven that omega 3 fatty acids in fish oils have some positive effects on neurological development and emotional health.

In fact, latest studies on fish oils and autism show some promising results.

Below you'll find more research on fish oils and ADHD treatment.

Omega 3 Concentrates Improve Behavior in Children with ADHD

A small pilot study showed omega 3 supplements may improve behavior traits in children with ADHD.

9 children with ADHD were initially supplemented with 16.2 grams/day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplements.

After 8 weeks of treatment, the EPA/DHA supplements led to significant improvements in behavior. These improvements included reductions in hyperactivity, inattention, oppositional/defiant behavior and disorderly conduct.

Researchers concluded that supplementation with high-dose EPA/DHA concentrates may improve behavior in children with ADHD.

Fish Oils More Effective Than Ritalin for Treating ADHD

Australia - A recent study found six capsules a day of fish oils can vastly improve a child's behaviour, without any of the side effects of Ritalin and related drugs.

Participants in this study included 7 - 12 year old children with ADHD. They were given either fish oil capsules or a placebo.

Within 3 months, the behavior of children on fish oils had improved dramatically. At 7 months of treatment many of the children were less restless and doing better at school.

Students taking the placebo also saw improvement in behavior when they switched to the fish oil supplements. Researchers added that weekly improvements were still being seen at the end of the study - suggesting that results may be even more dramatic after a longer course of treatment.

Furthermore, these results were compared to those from studies of Ritalin and it was found fish oils were more effective.

Fish oils may offer a safe alternative to ADHD drugs whose side effects may include hallucinations, dizziness, insomnia, heart problems and even death.

In 2005, a study called, The Oxford-Durham Fish Oil Study revealed more interesting benefits of fish oils and childhood development.

Researchers gave either omega 3 fatty acids or a placebo to 117 children with Developmental Coordination Disorder(DCD) for 3 months. DCD is a condition where children have difficulties in learning, behavior and psycho-social behaviors.

At the end of the study, children taking omega 3 fatty acids improved in reading, spelling and behavior.

However, not all studies are conclusive.

Here's a couple of studies where researchers only used the omega 3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and found different results than above....

Study Finds Docosahexaenoic Acid Not Effective for ADHD

Okayama, Japan - Japanese researchers discovered the omega 3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), may be more beneficial to children with ADHD than docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

40 children with ADHD (including 8 with suspected ADHD) were split into 2 groups. One group ate a diet including fish oils, that delivered about 4 grams of DHA per week, and the other ate a diet that didn't contain any DHA.

Researchers measured a number of factors such as attention deficit and aggressive behavior during the study but found no difference between the 2 groups at the end of the study.

A similar study from Rochester, Minnesota had children with ADHD take either 345 mg/day of docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) or a placebo. All children were receiving effective maintenance medication with stimulant medication.

Researchers measured DHA levels, amount of inattentiveness and impulsiveness when the children were not on any stimulant medication. Results were also similar in that there was no measurable difference between the two groups.

Conclusion:

Research on fish oils and ADHD show some children exhibit an increase in omega 3 fatty acids levels, and a decrease in ADHD symptoms, when they added these healthy fats to their diet.

Results appear positive, but some studies show no change when only DHA supplements are used. It should be mentioned that these studies used significantly smaller dosages of omega 3's.

One study had participants taking 4 grams per week of omega 3 with no significant change in ADHD symptoms. Another study had participants using over 16 grams a day - resulting in significant positive changes in ADHD symptoms.

Unfortunately, a lot of the research used small groups of children using different dosages, results are not completely conclusive on an effective dosage on a larger scale.

One major benefit is studies found less side effects associated with fish oil supplementation, compared to traditional prescription drugs, such as Ritalin.

Aside from these studies, there are many benefits for children who take fish oils.

Although there's currently no cure for ADHD, the right treatment plan for each individual child may help him/her reach their full potential. Hopefully, more research in this area may find a cure for this condition.

Research References: