Omega-3 Fatty Acid Improves Behaviour And Works Better Than Ritalin

Omega-3 fish oil helps relieve symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), this is according to results released from the largest, clinical-based omega-3 and omega-6 trial of its kind. The results will add to a growing body of evidence that nutritional intervention can directly benefit children who are experiencing hyperactivity, impulsivity and short attention span.

The trial was undertaken by The University of South Australia and Australia’s leading government research body, the CSIRO Human Nutrition. 132 children aged seven to twelve with ADHD symptoms were involved.

The omega-3 fatty acid used was Equazen’s eye q ™ supplement, which has shown significant benefits in other groundbreaking research focused on learning conditions.

For the first 15 weeks, the children were split into three groups- one group took eye q, the second took eye q and a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement, while the third took placebo palm oil capsules. At the 15-week crossover, all children were given eye q and the multivitamins/minerals.

The results of this trial were:

• At the end of the 30-week-long trial almost half of the children taking eye q for the entire study saw significant reductions in the core ADHD symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
• When the placebo group switched to the combined oil supplement for 15 weeks, they showed significant improvements in behaviour and attention span.
• The first eye q group continued to show improvements after an additional 15 weeks of taking the combined oil supplement in cognitive problems, inattention, restlessness, impulsivity and hyperactivity.
• Taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement showed no additional benefits for ADHD symptoms.

  An earlier study by the University of Adelaide in Australia found that omega 3 fish oil may be better than drugs such as like Ritalin and Concerta. The researchers looked at the effect of eye q fish oil capsules on 130 children aged between seven to twelve with ADHD.

  The results from this Australian trial build on the findings of the groundbreaking Oxford-Durham Trial funded by Durham County Council in conjunction with Oxford University which were published in the American journal, Pediatrics and The Nutrition & Health Journal. In this clinical trial, the researchers announced that 40% of the 117 children with learning and behavioural conditions who took eye q made dramatic improvements in reading and spelling.

  The results were:

  • Within 3 months, children were showing signs of improvement.
  • After seven months, the children were not as restless and showed improvements at school.
  • After 15 weeks, 30-40 percent of the children taking fish oil had improvements.
  • After 30 weeks, 40-50 percent showed improvement.
  • Improvements in concentration and attention improved by one-third.
  • Those taking placebo capsules who were later switched to fish oils also experienced improved behavior.

  Source: Daily Mail, 20 June 2006, Daily Mail 17 April 2007; Sinn, N. and Bryan, J. “The Effect of Supplementation with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Micronutrients on Learning and Behavior Problems.” Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. April 2007, 28:82-89; Alexandra J et al “The Oxford-Durham Study: a Randomized, Controlled Trial of Dietary Supplementation with Fatty Acids in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder” Pediatrics (2005) 115;1360-1366;
  M Portwood The role of dietary fatty acids in children’s behaviour and learning. Nutrition and Health (2006) 18:23-247

  Subscribe to my RSS feed for regular updates.