Omega-3 May Help Boys with ADHD, Say Dutch Scientists

26 Mar 2015 --- A study suggests that adding omega 3-rich foods to a child’s diet could help with ADHD.

The research, carried out by the University Medical Center Utrecht, in the Netherlands, involved 80 boys between the ages of 8 and 14, with half clinically diagnosed with ADHD. 

The study involved altering the kids’ diet by adding margarine – one type of which was enriched with omega-3 fatty acids with around 650mg of both DHA and EPA, while the other was a regular margarine acting as a placebo. 

Those who regularly ate the omega-3 loaded margarine did experience an improvement in their ability to pay attention, compared with boys who did not, said the researchers in the March 19 issue of Neuropsychopharmacology. 

The researchers suggested that parents could possibly help children with ADHD by adding foods rich in omega-3 to their diet, or by giving them a fish oil supplement. 

“It most likely wouldn’t hurt to try using omega-3 supplements in kids together with their medication, as it might give some extra alleviation of ADHD symptoms,” said lead author, Dienke Bos. However, he noted, the difference in the boys’ attention was not huge and more research on this matter needs to take place.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish such as trout, herring and salmon, as well as soybeans and canola oils. 

In the US, 5.9m children under the age of 18 have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the CDC, and it is one of the most common childhood psychiatric conditions. 

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a group of behavioural symptoms including impulsiveness, hyperactivity and inattentiveness.