Table 4.
Double-blind controlled trials of HUFAs in the treatment of ADHD.
| Study | Dose and Method | Sample | Treatment Duration | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voigt et al., 2001 [91] | DHA 345 mg/day vs. placebo; with ADHD medication | 63 children (6–12 years old) with ADHD | 4 months | no statistically-significant improvement in any ADHD symptoms compared to placebo |
| Richardson et al., 2002 [84] | EPA 186 mg·g/day + DHA 480 mg/die + linolenic acid 864 mg/die + arachidonic acid 42 mg/die vs. placebo | 41 children with ADHD-like symptoms | 12 weeks | mean scores for cognitive problems and general behavior improved more in the group treated with HUFAs than placebo |
| Stevens et al., 2003 [81] | DHA 480 mg/day + EPA 80 mg/day + arachidonic acid 40 mg/day + gamma-linolenic acid 96 mg/day vs. placebo; no ADHD medications | 50 children with ADHD-like symptoms | 4 months | no significant difference between active group and placebo was observed for any rating scale comparing patients who completed the trial |
| Hirayama et al., 2004 [92] | EPA 100 mg/die + DHA 500 mg/die vs. placebo; mostly without ADHD medications (only six subjects had been under medications) | 40 children with ADHD | 2 months | no evidence of the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids compared to placebo |
| Johnson et al., 2009 [93] | EPA 558 mg/die + DHA 174 mg/die + gamma linoleic acid 60 mg/die vs. placebo; only one patient with ADHD medication | 75 children and adolescents 8–18 year old with ADHD | 3 months | no evidence of the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids compared to placebo |
| Bélanger et al., 2009 [88] | EPA 20–25 mg/kg/die + DHA 8.5–10.5 mg/kg/day vs. placebo; no ADHD medications | 26 children | 16-week | improvement in inattention and global ADHD symptoms only in the first phase of the study (Weeks 0–15) |
| Milte et al., 2012 [94] | EPA-rich oil (providing EPA 1109 mg and DHA 108 mg), DHA-rich oil (providing EPA 264 mg and DHA 1032 mg) vs. an omega-6 HUFAs oil; no ADHD medications | 90 children (7–12 year old) with ADHD | 4 months | no statistically-significant differences between the two groups |
| Widenhorn-Müller et al., 2014 [95] | EPA 600 mg/die + DHA 120 mg/die; no ADHD medications | 95 children (6–12 years) with ADHD | 16 weeks | improved working memory function, but no effect on other cognitive measures or behavioral symptoms in the study population |
| Sinn and Bryan, 2008 [87] | EPA 93 mg/day + DHA 29 mg/day + gamma-linolenic acid 10 mg/day vs. placebo; no ADHD medications | 132 children (7–12 years) with ADHD | improved in inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity in most ADHD scales in parents’ reports; no improvement in teacher reports; limits: no ADHD diagnosis (reported ADHD symptoms) | |
| Perera et al., 2012 [90] | omega-3 + omega-6 vs. placebo; with ADHD medications | 98 children (6–12 years) with ADHD diagnosis | 6 months | improved behavior and learning in restlessness, aggressiveness, completing work and academic performance, but not in inattention, impulsiveness and cooperation with parents and teachers |
| Kirby et al. [89] | DHA 400 mg/day + EPA 56 mg/day; no ADHD medications | 450 healthy school-children | 16 weeks | significant improvement in impulsivity, handwriting and attentional capacity and a possible protective effect of omega-3 on behavioral dysregulation, compared to placebo |
Abbreviations: EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid; DHA = docosahexaenoic acid.