Fish Oil for ADHD?
Blended fish oil supplements taken for just three months brought dramatic improvements in symptoms of ADHD, severe impulsivity, and severe inattention, according to a study of 12-15 year olds with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The study, reported by the APA’s PsycPort, found a marked improvement in symptoms associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
According to this brief report — which notably did not include full details of the study’s design:
A pre-trial assessment of the students at Greenfield Community Arts College in Newton Aycliffe showed that 94% had moderate or severe ADHD. The students also had an inattention scale rating of 94% and a severe impulsivity rating of 89%.
After taking blended fish oil supplements for just three months there were significant improvements. Severe ADHD reduced to 28% as did severe impulsivity, and severe inattention fell to just 17% among the students.
Dr Madeleine Portwood, Durham local authority’s senior educational psychologist and lead researcher on the trials, welcomed the results, saying: “These trials were undertaken with a group of potentially vulnerable students with persistent behavioural difficulties and who were at risk of exclusion.”
“By taking the fatty acid supplement, those aspects of their behaviour which put them at risk of exclusion improved dramatically.
“With permanent school exclusions nationally having risen by 19% since 1999/2000, 68% of them among the 12-14 year old age group, our most recent trials suggest a clear route to improvement.”
So maybe there is something to the hypothesized fatty acid/fish oil - ADHD connection after all?
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This article was last reviewed by on Monday, 27th March 2006. You can leave a response below.
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15 Responses to “Fish Oil for ADHD?”
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Heidi Teachout15
I am looking for parameters on how much fish oil and what combination of fish oil to give my son who has been diagnosed bipolar and ADHD. He weighs 104 lbs
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sue14
My nine yr old daughter has adhd and we have tried just about every medication none of them have worked, they start out fine and then after a couple of weeks she right back the same way. I have been told that fish oil has helped some children with adhd. I need help she is falling way behind in school and i am at a dead end. and how much fish oil would be good for her she weighs about 65 pounds thank you
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Nilda13
Thank you for the info.
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sally12
8-16 grams. That is a lot! Just read the labels. ad/hd is not diagnosed until age 6 with symptoms lasting 6 months. Please talk to your doctor before considering treatment for your 4 year old. We do not know what the long term results will be.
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Nilda11
Hi! I just started researching about this for my four yr.old son. He is highly intelligent, but I think he may have ADHD. I am having trouble getting him to listen and to just stay still. It seems like he can not stop moving or talking!Anyway, I think this is a wonderful option, and I will like to know what dose should I give him. Any help will be greatly appreciated. -N.N. (Orlando, FL.)
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