Fish Oils for ADHD
ByI came across an article which summarizes research showing that evidence is building that people with ADD or ADHD should consider taking a fish oil supplement to help with their ADHD. The important point is to make sure that it contains more Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA) as our modern diet is quite deficient in this.
To read more, visit here.
Dr. Kenny
What is your opinion on EPA/DHA? Do you recommend this to your patients?
The literature seems to be thin and contradictory.
Hi SH – My opinion is that it is beneficial to take omega 3 fatty acids (fish oils) where the active ingredients are EPA and DHA. When it comes down to it – there is growing evidence that they may help. If it turns out that they don’t – the side effect profile is so mild, that there are few downsides to trying it. That’s my perspective…
Dr. Kenny
Hi Dr. Handelman:
Thank you for your perspective. Although my diet is fairly well balanced, fish is the one thing that is deficient- only due to lack of time, not due to aversion to seafood. I do not eat processed food and most of my food is prepared at home.
I am in my first year of a competitive professional program with a load of about 60 hours a week (class+study time) on average. I have been taking Concerta (18mg at 9 am; 18mg at 12:30pm) followed by 10 mg Ritalin IR at 6pm since September (I increase this dose on some days where increased performance is required- usually up to 72mg over the day); however, I feel as though I am frequently in a fog. Although I know the mph is working (I would not be able to function fully without it), I am still unable to concentrate at times, in a way that is different than what I experienced with ADD prior to starting Concerta. I am getting 6-8 hours of sleep per night, I play sports, exercise and am healthy. The fog I describe is a strange sensation and is not just a lack of concentration.
At this point in the year, it is not possible for me to modify/experiment with my dosage (I can’t afford to have a performance issue); however, modifying my diet is an acceptable option. I am taking a daily multivitamin and am going to add natural fatty fish and fish oil supplements favouring EPA.
1. Do you feel that this ‘fog’ may be the result of an n-3 deficiency? I have been unable to find a definitive list of symptoms.
2. I intend to eat one serving of fish a week, at minimum. There is controversy over the n-3 value of canned tuna. My schedule often doesn’t allow cooking, so I am often eating foods I have pre-prepared at home and frozen; fish is not compatible with this preparation/freezing/defrosting. Do you believe that the omega-3 value in canned tuna is sufficient when combined with daily fish oil supplements? Do you believe that fish supplements are reliable for n-3 (ie: reliable quality and bioavailability of n-3).
3. There is conflicting information on dosage of fish oils/n-3/EPA/DHA. Could you give me a recommended dosage range for whole n-3 and a recommended ration (3:1 to 4:1 seems to be consensus).
Thank you once again, Dr. Handelman. Although I am under the care of a very competent physician, your blog has been a good source of information for areas that he is not entirely familiar with. I sincerely appreciate your feedback.