Can Omega-3 Supplements Benefit the ADHD Brain?
Do omega 3 supplements benefit the ADHD brain? Are they safe to take daily? What types of fish oil supplements are tolerable for picky palates? Get answers to your questions about omega 3 and ADHD here.
Omega 3 for ADHD Symptoms: Does it Work?
You know that fish contain nutrients that help prevent heart disease and other serious ailments. Now evidence is mounting that these same omega-3 fatty acids also optimize brain function. Among other things, omega-3s may boost the body’s synthesis of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that ADHD medications act to increase.
So, could a daily fish oil capsule help curb the symptoms of ADHD?
Quite possibly, suggest some studies. Research has found that some people with ADHD may have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood than people without ADHD, which can negatively impact attention, focus, mood, and working memory.1,2 An omega-3 supplement may help to improve these symptoms, and enhance overall cognitive performance. That said, omega-3 supplements work best to augment, not replace, ADHD medication, which is the treatment recommended, along with parent training, by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Be sure to consult with your clinician before taking omega-3s or other supplements.
[The Real-Deal Guide to Complementary Treatments for ADHD]
Omega 3 for ADHD Symptoms: Is It Safe?
Fish oil is generally safe when taken properly, but you should always speak with your doctor before trying fish oil. Make sure the fish oil supplement you take is free of mercury and other contaminants. Children and adults with shellfish allergies should not take fish oil supplements; instead, they should look for vegetarian omega-3 supplements, usually made of algae or other plant-based materials. Side effects of fish oil supplements are generally mild, and may include nausea, heartburn, or “fish burps.”
Best Omega 3 Supplements for Kids with ADHD
Fish burps are a real, dreaded thing. These, and the fishy taste of many omega 3 supplements, deter many children from trying this line of treatment. So ADDitude asked three kids with ADD — Natalie (age 10), Harry (10), and Katie (7) — to try several popular omega-3 products.
Although none of the products caused the deal-breaker fish burps, some of them did need to be hidden in other foods to get past our tasters’ picky palates. Here are the results, along with some frank comments from our panel.
Carlson for Kids (lemon flavor) (#CommissionsEarned)
Benefits: Made from cold-water fish caught in Norwegian waters; bottled in Norway to ensure maximum freshness
Serving: 800 mg of omega 3s per 1/2-teaspoon serving
Comments: Our testers preferred it mixed with a favorite food. Harry has his mixed in chocolate milk. Try it in a spoonful of lemon yogurt.
Coromega Kids Omega 3 Squeeze (orange flavor) (#CommissionsEarned)
Benefits: Portable, single-dose packets; clinically proven to deliver 300 percent better absorption than softgels
Serving: 284 mg of omega 3s per 2.5-g packet
Comments: Our tasters weren’t thrilled with taking it straight. Mixing it in a smoothie or yogurt helped a lot.
Barlean’s Kid’s Omega Swirl (lemonade flavor) (#CommissionsEarned)
Benefits: Nine times more absorbable than regular fish oil; has the taste and texture of a smoothie
Serving: 720 mg of omega-3s per 2-teaspoon serving
Comments: All three kids liked it straight. Says Harry: “Double thumbs up.” Says Natalie: “Mmm, ahh, yummy. I could drink it all down.”
[Read This Next: The ADHD Food Fix]
Research-Based Formulations Specifically for ADHD
Equazen Pro, a new Omega-3 supplement, manages omega-3 fatty acid deficiency to nutritionally support focus and attention in children with ADHD or ADHD-type symptoms. It was formulated to address a LC-PUFA deficiency caused by genetic abnormalities that is linked to ADD-type symptoms.
In addition, several vegetarian options do exist, including products like Purity Omega.
Omega 3 and ADHD: Next Steps
- Read: 12 Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Read: 6 Essential (and Often-Overlooked) Supplements for ADHD
- Read: ADHD and Fish Oil Supplements: What’s a Safe Dosage?
View Article Sources
1DETAILSHawkey, E., Nigg, J.T. (2014). Omega-3 Fatty Acid and ADHD: Blood Level Analysis and Meta-Analytic Extension of Supplementation Trials. Clin Psychol Rev. 34(6):496-505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2014.05.005
2DETAILSLange, K. W. (2020). Omega-3 fatty acids and mental health. Global Health Journal, 4(1), 18-30.
ISSN 2414-6447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glohj.2020.01.004.
Update 12/2020: An earlier version of this article misidentified DHA as an omega-6 fatty acid. DHA is an omega-3.
#CommissionsEarned
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