[shy_bear]

I came across this online. A study was done and the finding was that 800mg of omega3, fish oil, is very effective in treating those with ADHD. Since some people don't want to use medication or can't b/c of the cardiac side effects they were encouraging this as a method to look at.

[mj77]

That is interesting. Do you have the site link where you got the information. My son is currently on both Concerta and Ritalin for ADD. Though I'm glad we found something that works, at this point I'd be open to trying a non drug approach. Thanks!

[mallory4]

I haven't read about that research, but my friend's son has been on Omega 3's for a couple of years now. He doesn't have ADD or ADHD, but he has a lot of sensory issues, coordination and balance problems. They did OT and PT for years, but she says the thing that has made the most difference in his ability to manage himself physically is the Omega 3's.

[Sun8]

I have read quite a bit about it and the school studies they have done in the Uk seem very promising. I also read where it is of help for bi-polar disorder and quite a few psychiatrists prescribe it over other medications with excellent results. It seems to have somthing to do with regulating the amount of calcium floating around in the brain. Too much (calcuim) can inhibit many normal brain functions. restricting calcium in the diet really has no effect in reducing it in the brain, but the omega 3 works. Pharmacy grade is what they say to use. Another interesting thing i found while researching this and why add adhd bi-polar and other learning disorders seemed to have skyrocketed is.... beef, and the addition ( they started adding it in many foods) of omega six in many of our foods. Omega 3, 6 and 9 need to have a certain balance. Too much omega 6 and the balanced is tipped. Researching further to try to figure out what has changed from the days when these disorders were rare i found somthing that makes sense. In the old days cows grazed in fields eating grass and grain. That is a normal diet for cows. Quite a few years ago they found out corn fed cows gained more fat, marbling, buttery tasting meat and a higher weight gain...thus more $$$ per cow. The down side is corn is not a natural food for them. They are given only so much corn as too much will make them ill. Corn fed cows have very little omega 3 fatty acids in the meat and more omega 6, add that to the fact they are putting omega 6 in many foods now and it is wayy too much. Field and grass fed cows have high omega 3, and less omega 6. Basically the normal percentage for each for optimum health. another clue to to being low in all the fatty acid fats is alot of ear wax!
Btw... i am a mother of 2 grown boys who have add and dyslexia. Niether of them graduated high school
( the schools were doing nothing but discouraging them so we pulled them out in 10th grade). my oldest son works for boeing and my youngest, 19 years old, works as a union carpenter at $26.00 an hour.
Coffee every morning when they were kids worked great as well as a diet high in fatty acid, free of hormones etc.
From what i have read it cant hurt to try the pharmacy grade ( make sure free of mercury etc) omega 3's

[mallory4]

That is interesting about the ear wax--I wonder why a shortage in fatty acids leads to that? My ds has more earwax than any of my dd's did....hmmmm.

[Sun8]

ahhhh it has been awhile since i learned of the ear wax connection but it was along the lines of... we use fats to lubricate many things in the body, the ear canal is one of them and when we have a lack of fat..(essential fatty acids) we produce other lubricants and protectants.

[mrsred]

I have been giving omega 3 fatty acids to my kids all summer (all three with adhd, dd also has ODD). I am also using some other supplements with oldest (only bio child) and have been able to cut his concerta dosage in half. We have been doing 400 mg daily. Maybe I need to increase that to 800mg? I would love to get ds11 off all rx adhd meds, as he is 4'11 and only weighs 67 pounds!

[NeedsCoffee]

I'm in seafood research and have seen many studies relating to fish oil and brain function - all positive. My adopted daughter is given her dose every morning.... when she doesn't get it, we see hyper tendencies. With it, she can sit still a bit better. Still having her evaluated for ADD, though, b/c of her focus.

[marykath]

We just started giving Omega-3 to our youngest, at our therapist's suggestion. However, we have been giving the full dose at night - after bath. Do you see better results if you give it in the a.m.? Or throughout the day? We haven't seen a change yet, but it's only been a few days.

[mrsred]

I also give the omega 3 in the evening. Can anyone say if it makes a difference? We have been doing omega-3 for a few months and I really can't say I see much of a difference.

[marykath]

OK, we have been giving our 3-year-old Omega-3 for about one week now, and this is how it's going. Hope this helps someone. If one of you knows more, or has some suggestions for us, please let me know.

- We tried giving one dose after bath. We had GREAT bedtimes for a few days (but that could have been a coincidence). She actually slept through the night for the first time since she came to us a year and a half ago!
- Since then, I've read that most kids take it twice a day, w/ meals. So, now we give five pills at night, then three pills in the morning. Always on a full stomach (or as full as you can get w/ a toddler). Bedtime continues to go more smoothly, although by no means perfect.
- We use the capsules, not the oil that you would drink. They taste like orange and my daughter loves them.
- We give about 700 mg per day. The recommendations for toddlers range from about 400 mg per day to 1000 mg per day, from what I can gather. No one seems to agree on this, and our peditrician recommended we keep it somewhere in the middle for now.
- Our peditrician is doubtful it will help, but says doses under 1000 mg for kids can't hurt, either.
- Perhaps its wishful thinking, but I think we've seen less meltdowns, rages, whatever you want to call them...and it seems she is letting go of her anger somewhat quicker after an episode...but maybe she is just growing up...or maybe I think this because I so want to see results.
_ Last Thursday, my daughter's preschool teacher said she stayed a long time at the art table pasting tiny puffy fish onto her picture...and my daughter never stays a "long time" anywhere!

So, I like to think it is helping. If you have an experience to share, I would be interested in hearing about it.

[Gili]

My DS has a mild form of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (plus sensory integration issues and mostly likely heading for an ADHD diagnosis as soon as he's old enough to get it - though generally I don't like those kinds of prophesies :-) . My husband, who is generally a skeptic, swears by the fish oil supplement he has been giving DS. I don't see a difference, although I'd really like to. But this IS the one kind of dietary thing that we've decided to use, because it's simple (if expensive), can't hurt, and may very well help.

[MomwithFive]

Where do you guys find fish oil for kids? I've wanted to start my daughters and son on this. But, the young ones can't swallow the large capsules. Is there a better alternative? I have a son dx with tourette's and adhd and think it would be beneficial. tia for any info

[marykath]

The oil is available online. I don't think I'm allowed to recommend any brands here (?), but just google fish oil and children and you'll come up with something.

[mrsred]

I get it at the health food store. They carry one that is is a small capsule that can either be chewed or swallowed whole. It has a strawberry-ish flavor. Also, Costco now carries a "gummy" omega 3. My littlest loves that. My older three are such pros at swallowing pilss and capsules they prefer just the regular "adult" capsule. Since it is more mg it means they only have to take one.