Omega-3s like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential fatty acids that are good for the brain. Supplementation with these healthy fats is linked to enhanced cognitive function and academic performance. Past research has also associated omega-3 deficiency with ADHD. One study showed that children with ADHD have lower blood levels of EPA and total omega-3s than healthy children.
With that in mind, the researchers conducted a study involving 92 Taiwanese ADHD patients aged six to 18 to examine the effect of supplementing with high-dose EPA. They asked the participants to take either EPA supplements or a placebo for four months.
The children with low EPA levels were able to stay focused and vigilant after taking the supplements. On the other hand, those with normal EPA levels at baseline experienced no improvements, while those with high EPA levels became more impulsive.
"Our results suggest that fish oil supplements are at least as effective as conventional pharmacological treatments among those children with ADHD who have omega-3 deficiency," said lead researcher Jane Chang, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at China Medical University.
Carmine Pariante, a professor of psychiatry at King’s College London and one of the study authors, said that their findings set an important precedent for other nutritional interventions. He noted that physicians can start bringing the benefits of "personalized psychiatry" to children with ADHD.
"For those children with omega-3 deficiency, fish oil supplements could be a preferable option to standard stimulant treatments," added Pariante.
"High blood levels of EPA without using supplements can be achieved through a good diet with plenty of fish, which is common in some Asian countries like Taiwan and Japan," explained Kuan-Pin Su, who was also involved in the study.
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