Inattentive but Not Other ADHD Children Respond Well to LC-PUFA Supplementation
Children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have other behavioral problems, such as learning difficulties, reading or writing abnormalities, motor coordination, defiant behavior and others. In addition, it has been noted often that the pattern of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their blood differs from children without this disorder. In particular, ADHD children usually have lower amounts of long-chain omega-3s, even though they consume the same amounts as other children. A shortage of these fatty acids may contribute to the condition. For example, it has been noted by some researchers that the severity of the condition is worse as levels of red blood cell DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), one of the two main long-chain omega-3s, decrease.
The situation is more complex than simply providing more of these fatty acids. This was shown in a study comparing the responses of healthy and ADHD children when supplemented with long-chain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Both groups of children improved with the supplements, but the fatty acid deficiency was not corrected. On the other hand, trials among children with a range of ADHD symptoms who consumed long-chain fatty acids reported significant improvements in behavior and learning. It takes months, however, to observe the changes.
In a new study from Sweden, researchers wanted to see if they could obtain the same encouraging results as others had in children with diverse ADHD symptoms. The children were 8 to 18 years of age. One group of children was given a modest dose of long-chain fatty acids, mostly omega-3s, while the other received olive oil as a placebo. The study lasted 6 months.
The children generally fell into two categories; those with a combined type of ADHD with hyperactive and impulsive behavior and those who were mainly inattentive. More than three-quarters of the children had other associated difficulties, such as reading or writing problems, defiant behavior, developmental coordination disorder and the like. Nearly all were boys. Their behaviors were assessed in detail by a clinician and the parents before and after the study.
For the first 3 months, children consumed either the long-chain fatty acids or olive oil. After that, all children consumed the long-chain fatty acids for another 3 months. That study design yielded two groups of outcomes for 3 months of treatment, plus a group that received the fatty acids for 6 months.
As often happens in studies, both groups showed changes in their behaviors. After 3 months, the children taking the long-chain fatty acids showed significant improvement in their clinician-based scores compared with the placebo group. Their ADHD assessment scores also improved, but not enough to reach statistical significance. At six months, the children who had been taking the long-chain fatty acids continued to improve, as did those who had been taking the placebo, but differences between the two groups were not significantly different.
Next, the investigators examined the changes in children considered to be “responders.” Those children showed at least a 25% improvement in their scores, regardless of which group they were in. At 3 months, 26% of children taking the long-chain fatty acids were considered responders, whereas only 7% of the placebo children were responsive. Moreover, nearly half the responders in long-chain fatty acid group improved their symptoms by 50% or more, but none in the placebo group improved that much.
When the investigators looked at which type of ADHD the responsive children had, it was the inattentive type more than the other forms. They were also more likely to be in the 13- to 18-year age category. Further, the children with the greatest improvement experienced enhanced daily functioning.
This study contributes new information about the responses of ADHD children to supplementation with long-chain fatty acids. It suggests that children with predominantly the inattentive type of ADHD may be more likely to respond. In addition, children continued to improve the longer they consumed the supplements up to 6 months. Thus, consumption for 6 months was more effective than for 3. Finally, the study confirms previous reports that a modest amount of long-chain fatty acids may be clinically useful in at least some children with ADHD.
SOURCE: Fats of Life Newsletter