Clinical trial boosts omega-3's ADHD benefit claims

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioural Pediatrics recruited 132 kids with ADHD aged 7 to 12.

For the first 15 weeks of study, the kids were given daily supplements or placebo. Parents were asked to rate their child's condition after 15 and 30 weeks with the 14 ADHD scales of the Conner's Parent Rating Scales. After 15 weeks of supplements, improvements were recorded in half of these scales. After 30 weeks, the parental ratings of behaviour improved significantly in nine out of 14 scales.

"The present study is the largest PUFA trial to date with children falling in the clinical ADHD range on Conners Index. The result support those of other studies that have found improvements in developmental problems symptomatic of ADHD with PUFA supplementation," wrote Sinn.