Omega 3/6 as ADD treatment?

In the spring of 2008, Professor Mats Johnson and colleagues reported that a select sub-group of children with attention deficit disorder who were given omega 3/6 fatty acids had lower scores on two scales measuring features of the disorder. The sub-group appears to be children with primarily attention Of course, just as one swallow does not a summer, I wouldn’t recommend going into the business of promoting omega 3/6 therapy. Still for those who have championed the importance of nutrition, this will come as welcome news.

Journal of Attention Disorders, Vol. 12, No. 5, 394-401 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1087054708316261

Omega-3/Omega-6 Fatty Acids for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial in Children and Adolescents

Mats Johnson
Göteborg University, Sweden, mats.k.johnson@vgregion.se

Sven Östlund

Göteborg University, Sweden

Gunnar Fransson

Göteborg University, Sweden

Björn Kadesjö

Göteborg University, Sweden

Christopher Gillberg

Göteborg University, Sweden

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess omega 3/6 fatty acids (eye q) in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method: The study included a randomized, 3-month, omega 3/6 placebo-controlled, one-way crossover trial with 75 children and adolescents (8—18 years), followed by 3 months with omega 3/6 for all. Investigator-rated ADHD Rating Scale—IV and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale were outcome measures. Results: A majority did not respond to omega 3/6 treatment. However, a subgroup of 26% responded with more than 25% reduction of ADHD symptoms and a drop of CGI scores to the near-normal range. After 6 months, 47% of all showed such improvement. Responders tended to have ADHD inattentive subtype and comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders. Conclusion: A subgroup of children and adolescents with ADHD, characterized by inattention and associated neurodevelopmental disorders, treated with omega 3/6 fatty acids for 6 months responded with meaningful reduction of ADHD symptoms. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; 12(5) 394-401)

Things to consider: Only the data collection after the first 3 months was blind; note that at 6 months, when blind measures were not used, the percentage responding was higher. This opens the possibility that some of the difference between the percentage responding at 6 months and and 3 months was the result of bias by the people conducting the assessments. The sample is 75, so additional replications are important.

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