Fatty Acid Trip

Few things strike fear in the heart of a parent more than the words, “we think your child should be evaluated for ADHD.” Without a doubt, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) makes headlines, at home and in the media. So many questions arise: What are the causes? Does it truly exist? What are the dangers of stimulant medication? And why does ADHD seem to be on the upswing?

A visit to your local bookstore will reveal a shelf full of attempted answers. Physicians, psychologists, academics and educators alike write books about their views on the causes of ADHD and treatment options available today. Recently, I read one such book, “” by Professor Basant K. Puri, head of the Lipid Neurosciences Group at Imperial College, London and consultant to the MRI Unit, Imaging Sciences Department, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre at Hammersmith Hospital, London.

Puri, who has worked alongside Dr. Alexandra Richardson in major studies of fatty acid deficiency and the behavioral ramifications in children, explains the relationship between fatty acid deficiency and the symptoms of ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and other co-morbid disorders. He details how supplementation with high-EPA fish oil can transform the lives of sufferers without negative side effects or long-term detrimental implications.

I found the book to be thorough and informative, albeit a bit academic in tone. (Some of this may simply be cultural, as Puri’s syntax is certainly British.) The professor goes into great detail about the history of ADHD (at one time called minimal brain damage!), conventional treatments and their side effects, and how and why supplementation with high-EPA fish oil can significantly help.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with ADHD or knows someone who does. It’s an excellent read and will guide you in using high-EPA fish oil supplementation to combat this challenge. Puri is the real deal, and has done the world a favor by leaving his laboratory and sharing his work with the general public.

My only complaint is that the author greatly favors a particular formulation of high-EPA fish oil and mentions this throughout the book. While he may very well be right in his enthusiastic recommendation of the product, his great experience, education and expertise risk being overshadowed by the perception of potential commercial interests. That being said, “Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Natural Way to Treat ADHD” should be on the bookshelf of every pediatrician, educator and health practitioner, not to mention that of worried parents of children who are at risk of the dreaded ADHD label.

Below is an overview of the book provided by publishing representative Paterson Marsh, Ltd:

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Natural Way to Treat ADHD is a fresh look at ADHD, the controversial condition that is being increasingly diagnosed in children in the developed world and treated with powerful drugs. Professor Basant Puri chronicles the rise of ADHD as a ‘diagnostic entity’, how it has been regarded over the past 100 years and how current treatment with powerful amphetamine-like drugs was found to ‘work’. These drugs may help to reduce the symptoms, but at what long term cost to the individuals concerned?

Professor Basant Puri examines the underlying metabolic problems and dietary imbalances that may lead to hyperactive behaviour, and the ways in which these deficiencies can be addressed. He also looks at the conditions that often co-exist with ADHD, especially dyspraxia, which may have a similar root cause. Parents and carers of children with ADHD will find new hope in combating this relentless condition.

In Professor Basant Puri’s groundbreaking new book you will discover a very different way of looking at ADHD. His starting point is the basis of behaviour in the chemistry of the brain and the many factors which influence this. By understanding behaviour at this level it is possible to see how hyperactivity can be reduced and concentration improved in a natural way that is in tune with the needs of the individual. He presents the results of two major new studies, with which he has been involved, that demonstrate the effectiveness of a completely natural way to treat ADHD.

Contents
1. A breakthrough
2. What is ADHD?
3. Why does ADHD occur?
4. How can fatty acids help?
5. Stimulant medications versus fatty acids
6. Treating ADHD with fatty acids
7. Everyone can benefit from fatty acids
8. The journey to recovery

Unfortunately, this book is not easy to come by in the United States, however you can order it through individual resellers on Amazon.com. Ω

This entry was posted Friday, February 10th, 2006 at 2:55 pm and is filed under Children's Behavior and Learning, EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid), Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Books, ADHD. Both comments and pings are currently closed.