Clinical Characteristics and Serum Essential Fatty Acid Levels in Hyperactive Children

Abstract

This study compared 48 hyperactive children with 49 age-and-sex-matched controls. Significantly more hyperactive children had auditory, visual, language, reading, and learning difficulties, and the birth weight of hyperactive children was significantly lower than that of controls (3,058 and 3,410 g, respectively; p less than 0.01). In addition, significantly more hyperactive children had frequent coughs and colds, polydypsia, polyuria, and a serious illness or accident in the past year than controls, but there was no increase in asthma, eczema, or other allergies. Serum essential fatty acid (EFA) levels were measured in 44 hyperactive subjects and 45 controls. The levels of docasahexaenoic, dihomogammalinolenic, and arachidonic acids were significantly lower in hyperactive children than controls (docosahexaenoic: 41.6 and 49.5 micrograms/ml serum respectively, p = 0.045; dihomogammolinolenic: 34.9 and 41.3 micrograms/ml serum, p = 0.007; arachidonic: 127.1 and 147.0 micrograms/ml serum, p = 0.027). These findings have possible therapeutic and diagnostic implications, but further research is needed to attempt to replicate these differences.

Effect of randomized supplementation with high dose olive, flax or fish oil on serum phospholipid fatty acid levels in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

“…While a similar relationship between fish consumption and the neuropsychiatric disease attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not previously been observed, the levels of both EPA [21] and DHA [22,23], have been found to be abnormal in children with ADHD. Similarly, adults with ADHD also show low levels of the long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid DHA [24].…”

“…In this study, the individuals with ADHD were not diagnosed with other psychiatric disorders, but this possibility cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that both children [21][22][23] and adults [24] with ADHD have altered fatty acid status, including decreased EPA and/or DHA. The cause of the observed abnormalities of fatty acids in sufferers of ADHD is unknown, although there are several possible explanations.…”

Effect of docosahexaenoic acid-containing food administration on symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder — a placebo-controlled double-blind study

“…Comparing 48 hyperactive children with 49 age-and sexmatched controls, Mitchell et al (1987) reported that the levels of docosahexaenoic (DHA), dihomo-g-linolenic and arachidonic (AA) acids were significantly lower (about À15%) in the serum phospholipid fraction in hyperactive children than controls. Stevens et al (1995) analyzed fatty acid metabolism measuring the lipids of plasma and red blood cells of 53 AD/HD subjects.…”

Treatment alternatives for Attention-Deficit! Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

“…In adult humans, n-6 EFAs correlated positively and n-3 EFAs correlated negatively with cerebral-spinal-fluid 5-HIAA and HVA, the metabolites respectively of serotonin and dopamine (Hibbeln, Linnoila, Umhau, Rawlings, George, & Salem, 1998). Both the n-3 series (progenitor alpha-linolenic acid) and the n-6 series (progenitor linolenic acid) have been reported to be significantly lower in children with ADHD than in comparison controls (Mitchell, Lewis, & Cutler, 1983;Mitchell, Aman, Turbott, & Manku, 1987;Stevens et al, 1995). Even total serum free fatty acids were lower in ADHD, with ES = 2.4, p < .001 (Bekaroglu et al, 1996).…”