Korean J Pediatr.  2019 Sep;62(9):360-366. 10.3345/kjp.2018.06982.

Effect of omega-3 plus methylphenidate as an alternative therapy to reduce attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in children

• Mohammadzadeh S
• Baghi N
• Yousefi F
• Yousefzamani B

• KMID: 2464387
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2018.06982

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common chronic behavioral disorders in school-aged children. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of omega-3 supplementation as an alternative therapy for ADHD, which can be caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
METHODS
This was a double-blinded clinical trial study. Sixty-six children with ADHD (aged 6-12 years) referred to our child and adolescent psychiatric educational and therapeutic clinic were selected based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision criteria. Instruments including the Parent ADHD Rating Scale were used to assess ADHD at 0, 2, 4, and 8 weeks during the study.
RESULTS
The results showed no statistically significant difference between the methylphenidate with omega-3 group and methylphenidate with placebo group based on the Parents ADHD Rating Scale between week 0 (P≥0.96) and week 8 (P≥0.75). There were no significant intergroup differences between the Inattention (P≥0.48) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (P≥0.80) subscale scores on the Parents ADHD Rating Scale. The most common drug complications in the methylphenidate with placebo and methylphenidate with omega-3 groups were anorexia (27 [54%] vs. 41 [60.29%], respectively) and diarrhea (10 [20%] vs. 8 [11.76%], respectively), but the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Our results demonstrate that a specific dose of omega-3 for 8 weeks had no effect on ADHD.

Keyword

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder; Omega-3 supplement; Child

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Anorexia
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity*
Child*
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Diarrhea
Humans
Methylphenidate*
Miners
Parents
Vitamins
Methylphenidate
Vitamins