Is There An ADHD Omega 3 Link?
There may be someone in your family with ADHD. Fish oil may well provide an answer for that person. It has not yet been conclusively proven but it would seem from the evidence that there is a link between ADHD and fish oil.
ADHD, or what is otherwise known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, affects about 7 percent of children in the US. Most of these are boys and somewhere around 70 percent continue to adulthood suffering from ADHD. Omega 3 fatty acids have in many studies been shown to be important for the development of the fetal brain and also as a partial treatment for the symptoms of depression and there is now evidence emerging that using fish oil for ADHD treatment may be useful.
Recent studies on sufferers of ADHD have shown low levels of Omega 3 fatty acids (essential fatty acids) in their bodies. The 2 most important Omega 3 essential fatty acids are DHA and EPA. These are found in fish and also be taken as fish oil supplements.
A study done recently by the Inflammation Research Foundation study 3 boys and 6 girls who were all diagnosed with the symptoms of ADHD. These include in ability to concentrate on the task for an extended period of time, hyperactivity and other disruptive behavior.
High levels of fish oil supplements were given to each of the children over 8 weeks. During that time levels of Omega 3 fatty acids in their bodies were monitored and a study also monitored various factors indicating the degree to which their ADHD had changed.
During the 8 weeks their levels of EPA and DHA increased significantly and the indicators of the degree of ADHD will sell. Their hyperactivity score fell to less than half, from 11 to 5. Their inattention school fell from 18 to 10. These are impressive results for sufferers of ADHD. Omega 3 supplementation seems to have worked to reduce their symptoms of ADHD.
It is of course too early to say that we should be using fish oil for ADHD treatment, at least as a stand-alone treatment. But it seems that there is evidence that using fish oil for ADHD relief is worth pursuing. It does seem that there is a clear ADHD fish oil link.
It is also as yet not clear what dosage of fish oil is appropriate for ADHD sufferers. In the study dosage levels were high, higher than is generally recommended.
But it is clear from a massive body of evidence that just about all of this in the US should be taking Omega 3 fish oil supplements for general health, not just sufferers of ADHD. Omega 3 supplements benefit our health in a wide range of different ways including improving our mental state. Adequate levels of DHA and EPA do seem to impact on conditions such as depression and ADHD.
There’s a wide range of reasons, both the general health and to improve their mental state, why children with ADHD should be taking daily Omega 3 fish oil supplements.
Note that not all Omega 3 fish oil supplements are created equal. Many supplements have low levels of 2 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA, and do not represent good value for that reason.
Visit my website to find out how you can compare the different Omega 3 fish oil capsules available on the market.