Omega-3 Fatty Acids and ADHD

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-r-beaudreault/adhd-and-diet_b_8085084.html

Author: Amy R. Beaudreault,  PhD

Title: ADHD and Diet: The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Summary: ADHD is a psychiatric disorder characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Approximately 11% of children from four to seventeen are diagnosed with ADHD, which is a total of 6.4 million children in the U.S. These diagnoses are continuing to rise, which is alarming due to the effects that ADHD can bring to a child. There are four methods to mediate the symptoms of ADHD. Medication, behavioral intervention strategies, parent training, and school accommodations all help to mediate the symptoms. However, omega-3 fatty acids seem to reducing ADHD symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids are fats that the body cannot produce, and can only be obtained through food. These fatty acids exists in the form of ALA, EPA, and DHA. EPA and DHA are found in oily fish, while ALA is found in flax seeds, nuts, and vegetables. These fatty acids are shown to improve cognitive function in children with ADHD. Despite conflicting results from studies, many of these studies showed minor beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for ADHD. While the intake of omega-3 fatty acids is not a cure for ADHD, and should not replace standard medication, it should be considered to improve the symptoms of inattention, and for its overall health benefits.

This is connected to what we have already discovered because it talks of the potential of omega-3 fatty acids in mediating ADHD symptoms. ADHD is a disorder that occurs in the brain, and the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids seem to mediate the symptoms due to its property of improving cognitive ability. Other articles that review the connection between omega-3 fatty acids and ADHD verify that there is some connection to increased attentiveness in children with ADHD and the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids. In general, it seems as if the consumption of ALA, EPA, and DHA all help with ADHD symptoms, but should be taken for its other benefits as well.