The Truth About Fish Oil and ADHD

The topic of fish oil and ADHD has been often discussed lately in the news, magazines and on the internet.  By the time you finish reading this, you’ll have a better understanding of how the use of fish oil impacted a group of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and also why fish oil and ADHD are so often used together in the same sentence.  From the findings of this research you will be able to draw your own conclusions on whether fish oil is an effective means of treating ADHD and if it is a course of action you would want to take in your own life either with yourself, or a loved one.

ADHD has perplexed many researchers, doctors, behaviorists, therapists and dietitians for decades.  It has received growing attention in recent years as the estimated number of affected children has been estimated to be 3-5%.  Most notably, the condition has reached epidemic proportions with American children.  It is thought that ADHD is caused by low levels of the brain chemical dopamine, and that if levels of this chemical could be restored either by synthetic or natural means, the condition could be reversed or at the very least, controlled.  Ritalin has been the preferred method of treatment for many doctors over the years, and its effectiveness has been attributed to increased dopamine levels the medication causes.

I will refer to something called the AA/EPA ratio in the next few paragraphs.  Essentially what this measures is the ratio of the harmful omega-6 acids to the beneficial omega-3 acids.  The lower this number is for a person, the better.  It has been found that many people with brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, dyslexia, stroke and multiple sclerosis have higher ratios than those that don’t, leading doctors and researchers to believe that omega 3 deficiency and higher levels of omega 6’s in the diet is the cause, or at the very least a contributing factor for many of the brain disorders and chronic conditions we see today.  Such findings are directing many in the medical profession to pay closer attention to the subject of fish oil and ADHD.

Researcher Dr. Barry Sears and colleague Rene Espy engaged in a research experiment where a group of children with ADHD were given high doses of fish oil (10-20 grams) while simultaneously controlling insulin levels in all children for eight weeks.  

The results were astounding.  After a period of only a few weeks, it was noted that “these children’s ability to concentrate increased dramatically” (Sears 145).  It was also noted that there were “positive changes in behavior both in school and at home” (Sears 145).  The children’s blood was measured at the start of the experiment and it was determined that the average AA/EPA ratio was around 22.  It should also be noted that Japanese children have AA/EPA ratios of around 1.5.  Why the comparison to Japanese children?  The reason is because Japanese children have a much higher intake of omega 3’s from fish in their diet than their American counterparts, and the average AA/EPA ratio for them is 1.5.

After the eight week experiment the children’s blood was measured again and it was found that the average AA/EPA ratio was as low as 3, leading the researchers to believe the reduction in ADHD symptoms of lack of concentration and poor focus were directly due to the high levels of fish oil used in the diet.

Dr. Sears also noted that at the end of the eight week experiment, most of the children resorted back to their old eating habits, stopped taking fish oil, and then rapidly deteriorated back to their previous conditions.  

The findings demonstrated that a lower AA/EPA ratio is achieved by reducing omega 6’s in the diet, and increasing omega 3’s via fish oil.  The conclusions to draw from this experiment are that a lower AA/EPA ratio is likely responsible for a reduction in ADHD symptoms and that if the fish oil was to be continuously administered every day, the symptoms of ADHD would either be more manageable or nonexistent.

These results beg the question:  If the children continued on the regimen beyond the eight week trial, would the benefits have persisted?

So, what’s your goal?  Your goal is to determine where you stand on the topic of fish oil and ADHD. Also, to use this information to determine if using fish oil could possibly improve your quality of life or the quality of life of a loved one by reducing or eliminating the effects of ADHD.  Although the experiment is far from conclusive, the results are astounding and shed tremendous light on the miracle of fish oil in the treatment of ADHD.  It should also be noted that there have been many similar experiments conducted with comparable results.

To learn more about the fish oil I use daily to keep my AA/EPA ratio number good, visit my website today!