Nutrition for ADHD

by Brenna Leah Cashman, BHSc.,RNCP
Omega-3s and Attention Deficit Disorder

Can a little bit of fish help children stay in their seats?

That seems to be the conclusion of several studies which looked at the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in children with ADHD.  In children with hyperactivity or attention deficits, levels of omega-3 are often depleted.  It made sense to investigate whether supplementation of this essential fatty acid would improve some of the behaviors associated with ADHD.

The results were impressive.  In one study, children were given either supplementation of omega-3 and omega-6 or a placebo.  Children taking the essential fatty acids showed improvement in teacher-rated attention and parent-rated conduct.  Moreover, they made significant improvements in reading and spelling progress.

And this was all thanks to a little fish oil.  Fish such as salmon and sardines contain high levels of essential fatty acids.  Supplementation usually takes the form of fish oil capsules, which contain the highest levels of omega-3.  More studies are underway to determine the optimal dose of fish oil and to investigate the other possible positive effects of fish oil on learning.

This research is exciting as it may offer parents a good alternative to pharmaceutical drugs such as Ritalin, which are often associated with side effects.   Regular drugs used to treat ADHD may also be less effective over time.  Parents frequently report that medications are very beneficial in the beginning of treatment, but seem to have little impact on children’s behavior after several years.  Some doctors now suggest that a good first step in treating ADHD is to supplement with fish oil and make dietary changes.

When using fish oil capsules, parents are advised to choose brands that have been purified.  Those that haven’t may contain contaminants such as mercury or dioxins.  The site www.oceansalive.org has collected information from 75 U.S. producers of fish oils and rates them on safety standards.  Omega-3 can also be found in flax seed, hemp seed, walnuts, and specially marked eggs.