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A double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial of omega-3 supplementation in children with moderate ADHD symptoms

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Abstract

Objective

Clinical trials and inconclusive meta-analyses have investigated the effects of omega-3 supplements in children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We performed a randomised placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids.

Methods

Children aged 6–15 years with established diagnosis of ADHD were randomised 1:1 to receive either supplements containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or a placebo for 3 months. Psychotropic or omega-3-containing treatments were not authorised during the study. The primary outcome was the change in the Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale version 4 (ADHD-RS-IV). Other outcomes included safety, lexical level (Alouette test), attention (Test of Attentional Performance for Children—KiTAP), anxiety (48-item Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised—CPRS-R), and depression (Children’s Depression Inventory—CDI).

Results

Between 2009 and 2011, 162 children were included in five French child psychiatry centres. The mean age was 9.90 (SD 2.62) years and 78.4% were boys. The inclusion ADHD-RS-IV at was 37.31 (SD 8.40). The total ADHD-RS-IV score reduction was greater in the placebo group than in the DHA–EPA group: −19 (−26, −12)  % and −9.7 (−16.6, −2.9) %, respectively, p = 0.039. The other components of the Conners score had a similar variation but the differences between groups were not significant. Two patients in the DHA–EPA group and none in the placebo group experienced a severe adverse event (hospitalisation for worsening ADHD symptoms).

Conclusion

This study did not show any beneficial effect of omega-3 supplement in children with mild ADHD symptoms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM, CIC1407, 69500, Bron, France

    Catherine Cornu, Tiphanie Ginhoux, Sandrine Masson, Behrouz Kassai & Valérie Laudy

  2. Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UMR 5558, Equipe EME, 69100, Lyon, France

    Catherine Cornu, Patrice Nony & Behrouz Kassai

  3. Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69500, Bron, France

    Catherine Cornu, Patrice Nony & Behrouz Kassai

  4. Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100, Lyon, France

    Catherine Mercier & Julie Mouchet

  5. Service de Biostatistique-Bioinformatique, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69003, Lyon, France

    Catherine Mercier

  6. Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Equipe Biostatistique-Santé, CNRS, UMR 5558, 69100, Villeurbanne, France

    Catherine Mercier

  7. Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Nord, 80054, Amiens, France

    Patrick Berquin

  8. Service de Médecine Psychologique Enfants et Adolescents, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 34295, Montpellier, France

    Nathalie Franc

  9. Service de psychiatrie de l’enfant et de l’adolescent, Hôpital Robert Debré, 75935, Paris, France

    Marie-France Le Heuzey

  10. Unité de Psychologie Médicale et de Liaison, Hôpital femme-Mère-Enfant, 69500, Bron, France

    Hugues Desombre

  11. Service de Psychopathologie de l’enfant et de l’adolescent, Hôpital Pierre Wertheimer, 69500, Bron, France

    Olivier Revol

  12. Centre d’Investigation Clinique - Hôpital Louis Pradel, 28, Avenue du Doyen Lépine, 69500, Bron, France

    Catherine Cornu

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  1. Catherine Cornu
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  2. Catherine Mercier
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Correspondence to Catherine Cornu.

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Cornu, C., Mercier, C., Ginhoux, T. et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial of omega-3 supplementation in children with moderate ADHD symptoms. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 27, 377–384 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-017-1058-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-017-1058-z

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