The Influence of Short-Chain Essential Fatty Acids on Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study
Abstract
Essential fatty acids (EFA) are needed for normal sensory, cognitive, and motor function. The EFA blood profile seems to be different in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as compared to matched controls. Previous open EFA supplementation trials were successful in demonstrating significant therapeutic effects in this population, whereas most of the randomized controlled trials failed to show any benefit over placebo. The current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial tested the influence of short-chain EFA supplementation on ADHD children, using parent and teacher questionnaires and a computerized continuous performance test. A total of 73 unmedicated children aged 7-13 years with a diagnosis of ADHD participated in the study; 63 children completed the study. The EFA supplement contained 480 mg of linoleic acid and 120 mg of alpha-linolenic acid, and the placebo contained 1000 mg of vitamin C (daily amounts); both were given for a 7-week supplementation period. Analysis of variance for repeated measures revealed that both treatments ameliorated some of the symptoms, but no significant differences were found between the groups in any of the treatment effects.
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Short-chain fatty acids and omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids have not been found to be efficacious in treating ADHD.
“Short-chain fatty acids [108] and omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids [109] have not been found to be efficacious.”
From Advances in understanding and treating ADHD (2011) · cites this paper as [108]
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- Authors
- Raz, R., Carasso, R. L., & Yehuda, S.
- Affiliations
- Bar-Ilan University (IL)
- Hillel Yaffe Medical Center (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Raz, Raanan
- ORCID
- Raz, Raanan
- Venue
- Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-04
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 167-177
- ISSN
- 1044-5463 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-8992
- OpenAlex
- W1966648066
- Cited by
- 67
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 6.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, essential fatty acids, short-chain fatty acids, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, dietary supplementation, children, ADHD symptoms, continuous performance test
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Fatty Acids, Essential, Female, Humans, Male, Psychological Tests, Psychomotor Performance, Surveys and Questionnaires, alpha-Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid
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