Fish Oil For ADHD-Will It Help?

You may have read reports that fish oil for ADHD is very helpful. And that really does make a lot of sense. You see, the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish oil are essential fatty acids used throughout the human body. As a matter of fact, the human brain is 50% DHA fatty acid.

Essential Fatty Acids

First, a little bit about the different types of essential fatty acids (EFAs) that our body requires. There are three primary types of these oils; Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9. None of these can be produced by the body itself, but must be taken in through the foods we eat. The typical American diet is very high Omega 6 and 9. However, most of us, including our children have a deficiency in omega-3 fat acids.

Among the omega-3 group are DHA, EPA, and ALA. All three of these fatty acids have their function in the human body, with DHA being the most important. DHA is also the most complex making it easily broken down into the EPA and ALA as the body needs. To convert ALA or EPA into DHA fatty acid is extremely difficult.

This is why finding a fish oil supplement that is higher in DHA than EPA is so important.

Fish Oil and ADHD
What Does the Research Show?

Studies on the effect of fish oil for ADHD are ongoing. Many of these studies have shown positive fish oil and adhd connection.

A study at the University of South Australia was conducted with 132 participants to look at the effects of fish oil for ADHD . This 30 week long study showed a 40% to 50% improvement in behavior.

A second group of children took a placebo for the first 15 weeks and then fish oil supplements for the second 15 weeks showed a 30% to 40% improvement.

The researchers in this study actually found fish oil supplements to be more effective in controlling behavioral issues than Ritalin and Concerta, two drugs that are frequently prescribed for ADHD.

Click here to learn about the fish oil supplements our family uses.

A report on studies on the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on ADHD published on the PubMed.gov website states:

In double-blind, randomized, controlled trials, DHA and EPA combinations have been shown to benefit attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), autism, dyspraxia, dyslexia, and aggression.

I tend to be skeptical about many nutritional supplements, but this government report is what convinced me of the fish oil for ADHD benefits.

Concerns Regarding Fish Oil Supplements

As clear as the fish oil and ADHD connection is, there are concerns related to heavy metal contamination of the fish in the world's oceans. One thing that has been found to be a cause of ADHD problems in children is the presence of heavy metals in their systems, so the last thing you want to do is add to the problem.

For this reason it is important to use only high quality omega-3 supplements. The source of the fish used to produce the oil is critical. Most of us in North America are usually think of the North Atlantic for the North Pacific oceans as being the most free from pollution.

However, this simply is not the case. The most pristine oceans in the world are found in the southern hemisphere, between New Zealand and Antarctica.

Products that come from this area showed virtually no trace of heavy metal contamination even though international standards do permit small amounts. This is the reason that I have chosen to use only fish oil supplements come from this area

Given the amount of DHA and EPA, and total omega 3 per serving, I have yet to find a better priced and more potent product than the Omega 3 fish oils produced by Xtend-Life Natural Products.

Their products are from the cleanest oceans on the face of the earth and are molecularly distilled. You might wonder why it needs to be molecularly distilled if it is already from the most pure waters available.

It is because nature causes its own set of impurities as hot gasses and heavy metals from deep in the earth are released into the oceans.

High quality omega-3 supplements are not expensive. As a matter of fact they are perhaps the most affordable way to improve mental and physical health available today. Be sure to avoid the heavily marketed products as they are usually overpriced. There is no reason to pay more than $20.00 for a 1 month supply.

Visit the Xtend-life Website now to learn more about their fish oils and how they can benefit you and your family.