What Positive Effect Does Omega-3 Have on Children with ADHD?

Studies show that the most common and effective treatment for ADHD is prescription-only stimulant medication.

Yet many are still unsure of it. The reason? Stimulant medication can cause a variety of health risks for patients and the general public.

This led researchers to seek alternative methods of treatment– one of which includes supplementation with natural fatty acids.

Because finding a safer option that reduces the side effects and improves overall well-being is necessary.

And fatty acids are a promising choice for this purpose.

But would it have any significant positive effects on children with ADHD?

To answer this question, let’s explore some facts and results.

What are Omega-3 Fatty Acids?

Omega-3, like Omega-6, is a family of fatty acids vital to health.

Your body can’t produce it. Instead, you obtain the needed amount through diet.

Fatty acids are the primary structural components of the cell membranes in the body and can be found in high concentrations in the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain.

Omega-3 is also one of the longest fatty acids essential for the brain.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 9.4% of children in the United States.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), ADHD is a “persistent pattern of inattention and/ or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.”

And, to be classified as ADHD, symptoms should affect your developmental level and negatively impact your social, academic, or occupational activities.

Children with ADHD: Traditional VS Alternative ADHD Treatment

Using traditional treatment methods such as stimulant medications is considered essential for children with ADHD.

Because they help focus attention and control symptoms of hyperactivity/ impulsivity allowing your child to function at an appropriate level.

But the usage is monitored.

This is due to their adverse side effects, such as anxiety, insomnia, tachycardia, weight loss, irritability, and sudden death in children with heart disease.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies stimulant medication as a “controlled substance.”

And in many states, practitioners must see patients regularly and check government databases to monitor where and when prescriptions are collected.

Examples of stimulant medications are dextroamphetamine/ amphetamine (Adderall), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), and methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta).

But if your child is yet to be diagnosed, you shouldn’t give them such medicines.

Although stimulant medication for a child who is yet to be diagnosed can cause highly sought-after effects such as energy boosts, increased focus, and weight loss. First, seek professional help so you don’t end up unintentionally harming your child.

Health risks and the potential for misuse have led researchers to seek alternative treatment options.

Regarding alternative ADHD treatment, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been a strong focus.

PUFAs include Omega-3s [alpha linoleic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] and Omega-6s [arachidonic acid (AA), linoleic acid (LA)].

Your body can’t produce these fatty acids, so they must be obtained through diet. Hence, they’re called essential fats.

Overall, Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation has small but significant beneficial effects in children with ADHD.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids + Traditional ADHD Medication

Choosing combination therapy would allow for decreased dosing of traditional stimulant medications, which in turn reduces their side effects and will increase your child’s receptivity.

Employing PUFA supplementation may also decrease the societal risks of stimulants, including unconscious abuse.

And despite somewhat mixed results, the safety profile and the evidence that Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation would have positive effects on children with ADHD makes it a reasonable addition.

My First Encounter with Omega-3

I can never forget the pungent scent that filled my nostrils the moment my milk teeth came in contact with the substance in a translucent oval-shaped soft gel my mother had instructed me to swallow.

I was standing by the corridor leading to the kitchen when she approached me with a white tube in her right hand.

She stood before me and placed the soft gel pill in my hands. “Here, have some water, and swallow it.”

I immediately placed it on my tongue.

At this point, I was accustomed to my mother giving me vitamins and supplements regularly.

She always tells my siblings and me how these pills would help us stay healthy.

So no questions were asked before I crushed the pill.

By crush, I mean chew.

Yes. CHEW.

The scent was so strong that it affected my taste buds.

As the liquid in the soft gel pill spread all over my tongue, all I could think of was olive oil.

Olive oil that had been used to marinate raw fish for three days.

So, I could smell the fish…even almost taste it.

It took a while for my brain to process my reaction and feeling.

One word: Disgust.

All attempts to get the taste and feel off my tongue were futile.

However, after almost ten minutes of brushing, gagging, and gargling, everything appeared to be back to normal again.

Thankfully!

And it was there, and then I made a pact with my eight-year-old self to never chew pills (yes, I used to chew them) again or take that specific one.

Here’s the backstory of how the odd habit came to life– for some weird reason, I started chewing pills instead of swallowing when I was about six.

Mainly because it left a bittersweet taste on my tongue that I liked.

Meanwhile, before encountering this oval-shaped pill, I ate protein such as fish or meat daily.

After that incident? I didn’t eat fish for almost a month.

It felt like I had had my fill for the few seconds the liquid in the oval-shaped pill laid on my tongue.

I would later find out that the name of the pill was Cod Liver Oil (which contains Omega-3 fatty acid and is obtained from Codfish).

And that I needed to take it daily because it was vital for my development as a child.

Though I couldn’t understand why a pill that smelled and tasted like a fish could be so significant– I reluctantly agreed.

But I remember thinking, “Since it tastes like fish, why don’t I just eat fish?”

I had many questions. But asked none.

Why? I was worried that my mother would find out about my master plan.

I’m too embarrassed to share what it was. But, eventually, I was caught, and that’s all I’ll say on the matter for now…lol.

If anyone had told eight-year-old me that almost two decades later, I’d be writing about the usefulness of a pill that almost made me sick– I would probably have chuckled or screamed in horror.

Yet…here we are.

So, we can call my first encounter a blessing in disguise.

Thanks to it, I have a tale and an article for you.

P.S- Growing up I was given supplements because of their health benefits only.

How Much Omega-3 Does a Child with ADHD Need Per Day?

The right dosage of supplementation may differ for each child.

And your medical provider is responsible for educating you on how important a healthy, balanced, Omega-3-rich diet is for your child.

One of the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is an improved quality of life and the risk of harm is approximately zero.

So, it’s probably in the best interest of your child that their health practitioner recommends it.

Examples of Foods that Contain Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Since our body can’t naturally produce Omega-3 fatty acids, we need access to as many sources as possible.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, seafood, walnuts, snails, and various seeds. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in sunflower, safflower, corn, and soybean oils.

FUN FACT: The body utilizes Omega-3s in brain development and function while excessive intake of Omega-6s is associated with detrimental inflammation.

What are the Benefits of Omega-3?

About 30% of the weight of the brain is made up of polyunsaturated fatty acids and 1 out of every 3 fatty acids in the nervous system is a polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Omega-3 can contribute to certain brain disorders such as depression.

Specifically, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are important in the treatment and prevention of depression.

DHA is quite common in the brain and can be retro converted to EPA, thus, serving as a generator of EPA.

Here are the top 10 benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids:

• Omega-3 regulates gene expression and synthesis of eicosanoids, prostaglandin, resolvins, and protectins.
• Omega-3s are a vital part of nerve cell membranes (out layer).
• Lowers the tendency of babies to have learning disabilities later in life (human breast milk contains Omega-3 and the concentration depends on the dietary Omega-3 intake.)
• Decreased amino acid delivery across the blood-brain barrier.
• DHA promotes the translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 in adipocytes improving glucose uptake.
• 30% decrease in glucose uptake by neurons.
• Supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acid eases hyperactivity.
• Increasing long-chain Omega-3s in the brain may reduce inflammatory cytokines, which may improve neurotransmitter function.
• Increased brain atrophy.
• Reduced nerve growth factor and neuritis outgrowth.

Conclusion

Medicines don’t cure ADHD. But it can help boost your child’s ability to pay attention, have more self-control, and slow down.

And, Omega-3 can work with it to improve their overall mental health.

Over the years, various studies have been carried out to prove that children with ADHD react positively to Omega-3 fatty acids.

Even though some may still doubt its efficacy.

But one thing is sure, Omega-3 being an essential fatty acid (your body can’t synthesize it– so you need external sources) and a general-purpose supplement makes it a necessity.

Omega-3 has a lot of benefits. But it isn’t a “miracle” solution for ADHD.

It’s a supplement that interacts with the brain and aids brain development.

So keep researching, and don’t let anything you find online or are told be the final word.

Also, trust your child’s doctor.