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EFA supplementation in children with inattention, hyperactivity, and other disruptive behaviors

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Lipids

Abstract

This pilot study evaluated the effects of supplementation with PUFA on blood FA composition and behavior in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)-like symptoms also reporting thirst and skin problems. Fifty children were randomized to treatment groups receiving either a PUFA supplement providing a daily dose of 480 mg DHA, 80 mg EPA, 40 mg arachidonic acid (AA), 96 mg GLA, and 24 mg α-tocopheryl acetate, or an olive oil placebo for 4 mon of doubleblind parallel treatment. Supplementation with the PUFA led to a substantial increase in the proportions of EPA, DHA, and α-tocopherol in the plasma phospholipids and red blood cell (RBC) total lipids, but an increase was noted in the plasma phospholipid proportions of 18∶3n-3 with olive oil as well. Significant improvements in multiple but outcomes (as rated by parents) were noted in both groups, but a clear benefit from PUFA supplementation for all behaviors characteristic of AD/HD was not observed. For most outcomes, improvement of the PUFA group was consistently nominally better than that of the olive oil group; but the treatment difference was significantly, by secondary intent-to-treat analysis on only 2 out of 16 outcome measures: conduct problems rated by parents (−42.7 vs. −9.9%, n=47, P=0.05), and attention symptoms rated by teachers (−14.8 vs. +3.4%, n=47, P=0.03). PUFA supplementation led to a greater number of participants showing improvement in oppositional defiant behavior from a clinical to a nonclinical range compared with olive oil supplementation (8 out of 12 vs. 3 out of 11, n=33, P=0.02). Also, significant correlations were observed when comparing the magnitude of change between increasing proportions of EPA in the RBC and decreasing disruptive behavior as assessed by the Abbreviated Symptom Questionnaire (ASQ) for parents (r=−0.38, n=31, P<0.05), and for EPA and DHA in the RBC and the teachers' Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD) Rating Scale for Attention (r=−0.49, n=24, P<0.05). Interestingly, significant correlations were observed between the magnitude of increase in α-tocopherol concentrations in the RBC and a decrease in scores for all four subscales of the teacher's DBD (Hyperactivity, r=−0.45; Attention, r=−0.60; Conduct, r=−0.41; Oppositional/Defiant Disorder, r=−0.54; n=24, P<0.05) as well as the ASQ for teachers (r=−0.51, n=24, P<0.05). Thus, the results of this pilot study suggest the need for further research with both n−3 FA and vitamin E in children with behavioral disorders.

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Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonic acid

AD/HD:

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ALA:

α-linolenic acid

ASQ:

Conners' Abbreviated Symptom Questionnaire

ASQ-P:

Conners' Abbreviated Symptom Questionnaire for Parents

ASQ-T:

Conners' Abbreviated Sympton Questionnaire for Teachers

CPT:

Conners' Continuous Performance Test

DBD Rating Scale:

Disruptive Behaviors Disorders Rating Scale

DGLA:

dihomo-γ-linolenic acid

HRT:

hit reaction time

ITT:

intent-to-treat

RBC:

red blood cells

WJ-R:

Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battary-Revised

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Statistics, Purdue University, 47907, West Lafayette, Indiana

    Thomas Kuczek & Nels Grevstad

  2. Department of Educational Studies, Purdue University, 47907, West Lafayette, Indiana

    Sydney S. Zentall

  3. Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, Washington

    Louise Peck

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, Ohio

    L. Eugene Arnold

  5. Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, 700 West State St., G1, West, 47907, Lafayette, IN

    Laura Stevens, Wen Zhang, Anne Mahon & John R. Burgess

Authors
  1. Laura Stevens
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  2. Wen Zhang
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  3. Louise Peck
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  4. Thomas Kuczek
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  7. Sydney S. Zentall
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  8. L. Eugene Arnold
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  9. John R. Burgess
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Correspondence to John R. Burgess.

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Stevens, L., Zhang, W., Peck, L. et al. EFA supplementation in children with inattention, hyperactivity, and other disruptive behaviors. Lipids 38, 1007–1021 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-006-1155-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-006-1155-0

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