Published on June 25, 2019
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2016, approximately 9.4% of children ages 2-17 in the United States (about 6.1 million) had received a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at some point in their lifetime. Adults may also suffer from ADHD, and while most go undiagnosed, the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that approximately 4.4% of US adults, ages 18-44, have ADHD.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a mental/behavioral disorder with symptoms such as the inability to stay focused, a limited attention span, and hyperactivity, and may also include a decreased awareness of consequences, decreased motivation, disorganization, fidgeting, forgetfulness, aggression, impulsivity, and other cognitive, behavioral and mood issues.
Omega-3s May Help
It is well known that essential fatty acids are important to neural tissue health, and that they play an important role in brain development and function. Previous studies have shown benefits of omega-3s for individuals with a wide range of mental disorders, including a study looking at the effect of both vitamin D and omega-3 on irritability and hyperactivity in autistic children.
A paper by Rodriguez et al., published in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, describes a six month study involving 66 children (47 boys and 19 girls) between the ages of 6 and 19 who had been diagnosed with ADHD. The goal of this study was to determine whether daily supplementation with DHA would improve symptoms of ADHD in this group.
How did this study work?
Participants were randomized into two groups – one group received a supplement containing DHA, and the other received a placebo with olive oil. The DHA supplement was of a combination of 1000 mg DHA + 90 mg EPA; children weighing 32 kg (70.5 pounds) or less received one, while children weighing more than 32 kg received two. Cognitive and behavioral outcomes were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of supplementation.
What did the study find?
Greater improvements in cognitive and visual-sensory test performance were found in the DHA group compared to the placebo group. Behavioral symptoms of ADHD also decreased over time for the DHA group, with changes already evident from baseline to month three, while they increased over time for the placebo group (see the chart below).
Overall, this study supports previous findings that omega-3 supplementation, specifically DHA in this case, may be beneficial for children and adolescents with ADHD.
Could adjusting your omega-3 intake improve your health?
Make sure you know your Omega-3 Index and are taking daily steps to keep it at a level of at least 8%. Find out your levels today! Log on to the shop (click the link below) to get your tests and see for yourself if your levels can be improved.
Make sure you track your results before and after, about every 6 months!
Click Here to Access the Shop Page
How can I track my omega-3 intake and nutrient levels?
To help you track your nutrient intake and nutrient levels, GrassrootsHealth has created an online tracking system called myData-myAnswers. You can track your fish and plant-based omega-3 consumption, as well as your omega-3 supplements. This will help you know your true omega-3 intake and the intake amount you need to reach and maintain optimum nutrient levels. Check it out today!
How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?
Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!
STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health
STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study
STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there
STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)
