Fish oil improves reading in ADHD kids

"Fish oil improves reading in ADHD kids", Sydney Morning Herald,
Australia, June 26, 2007,
Link: http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/...019207176.html

Daily doses of fish oil appear to help ADHD kids read, write and spell
better, Australian research suggests.

Researchers from the University of South Australia and Queensland
University of Technology found that the Omega-3 fats in fish oil
appear to boost literacy in hyperactive children.

The results were anecdotal, but lead researcher Dr Natalie Sinn said
they were "significant" and would now be studied further.

"A quarter of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) have learning difficulties, but we saw substantial improvements
in this area," Dr Sinn said.

"The Omega-3s clearly seems to help in this way specifically, but
we're not exactly sure how yet."

The research team are further investigating the link between fish oil
and ADHD after an initial study was completed last year.

The research found notable improvements in half of the 145 children
who took fish oil capsules over 30 weeks.

These kids took oil rich in the long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids called
EPA, but the team are now studying whether the other acid, DHA, can
also help.

"We now want to find out which of the two is most important," Dr Sinn
said.

"We know that Omega-3 fatty acid DHA is also very important for brain
development, and many parents are confused as to which formulation of
fatty acids to buy for their children."

The new study will also investigate why some children responded better
to the oil treatment than others.

Dr Sinn said there was evidence that people with ADHD and other
emotional disorders may have difficulty metabolising Omega-3, a
problem which may actually have contributed to their condition.

The team will test blood fatty acid levels in the children to see if
they can establish patterns between levels and treatment response.

"It might be that some children need higher doses to get the
benefits," Dr Sinn said.