Essential fatty acid supplements may help children who have a certain kind of ADHD according to a 2014 dissertation at the Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg Sweden.
Between 3-6% of all children are estimated to have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Children with ADHD have difficulty sitting still controlling impulses and temper or being attentive for prolonged periods at a time.
Often we see these children being treated with medications; however these meds have side-effects and they do not work for everyone.
In this particular study 75 children with ADHD were given either an essential fatty acid supplement or a placebo for three months. After that all 75 participants were given an essential fatty acid supplement for the next three months. This was a double-blind study so neither the researchers nor the participants knew whether they received the EFAs until afterwards.
While researchers did not see any major improvement as a whole in 35% of the children with the inattentive subtype of ADHD called ADD the symptoms improved so much that it was deemed a clinically relevant improvement.
In addition the children who had a clear improvement in their symptoms also showed a better balance between their levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as shown in blood samples.
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