http://www.aaa3.net/conners-rating-scale-ranges/
A natural remedy for ADHD is Omega 3 – right?
Omega 3 is a natural remedy for ADHD? The simple answer is no. Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid is absolutely vital for adults, hence the word "essential" – for children age birth to two years, is even more important that they receive enough Omega 3 fatty acids DHA for brain health building. More than two years, which require the EPA for healthy brain function.
So why not a remedy? There is a remedy for the simple reason that it should be included in the diet, and not simply as an idea last minute to add to the diet because the child or adult with ADHD.
Does this mean that if you give a person with high drug resistance ADHD grade fish oil, and a poor diet, do not feel any effect? The answer must be yes, of course feel the effects. If someone dies hunger for long enough vital nutrients then your body will react in certain ways – if you then replace the nutrients, the body will time for proper balance.
What is ADHD? A good definition is:
A common disorder and behavioral development, is characterized by poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are inappropriate to the child's age. Children and adults with ADHD are distracted easily through images and sounds in their environment, can not concentrate for long periods of time, are restless and impulsive, or have a tendency to daydream and be slow to complete tasks.
Fish oil supplements
With current research reveals that deficiencies in Omega 3 fatty acids can be a factor affecting learning difficulties, the authorities in Durham, England, initiated a program to see if it was possible that an improved diet would lead to improvements in the classroom. But the shift of the high-carbohydrate, largely drawn that children typically consume diets would be a momentous task. So I decided to see if the fatty acids in the form of a fish oil supplement may be of some use.
This was the most extensive and largest looking at 3 fatty Omega fatty acids and learning conditions to be carried out in the United Kingdom.
This trial included more than 100 children in 12 primary schools in the area Durham. The study examined motor skills and dyspraxia, but also to assess dyslexia and ADHD.
Test results
At the start of trial the percentage of children within the clinical range of a diagnosis of ADHD was established in 32% for the fish oil group and 31% for the placebo group.
After 3 months of supplemental omega 3 fish oil, the percentage of children within the clinical range of a diagnosis of ADHD reduces to 18% for the acid acids, whereas it only decreased by 1% for the placebo group.
A raw score was calculated from the teacher evaluation form that assessed each the child's behavior. After 3 months there was a very significant reduction seen in the fish oil supplement group, compared with those treated with placebo, in this behavior score. The fatty acid group decreased from an average of 74.7 to 58.1., While the before and after treatment scores for the placebo group were 69.5 and 67.9.
The active fish oil group also saw a significant reduction in the Conners teacher ratings of ADHD DSM global scale after 3 months, compared with the placebo group. The placebo group showed similar improvements on this scale after crossing the active fish oils for the period of 3-6 months of the test.
Within three months, children in the active supplement was a significant reduction in behavioral rating scale hyperactive-impulsive, compared with those treated with placebo. Other reductions were observed in the period of 3-6 months of the study.
Dramatic results also were observed in only 3 months of the test dyspraxia. The active group supplementing with Omega 3 fish oil showed significant improvements in reading (9.5 months), spelling (6.5 months) and performance as compared with the placebo group no improvement was made general.
During the period of 3-6 months when the placebo group crossed into Omega 3 fish oil supplements, showed significant improvements in these areas with an average reading gain of 13.5 months and an average gain of spelling more than 6 months. The group remains active supplementation displayed more signs of progress or maintained their improvement.
At baseline, children were a year behind their chronological age for reading and spelling, but after the trial, the active group had been on 3 fish oil Omega throughout the trial the spelling and reading gains made over and above their age.
An alternative view
In the face of things these results are quite conclusive. However, if one takes into account that by his own admission that he had a real battle with the children (and in some cases parents) to change their eating habits, then the results – to a qualified nutritionist, and anyone who knows what a balanced diet is – swing. Far from being to show that fish oil cures ADHD and dyspraxia, but rather appears to demonstrate the need for a well balanced diet with all these food components included in the first place.
What is more interesting than making a lot of undisciplined children's diets in the balance right and then claim that fish oil help with ADHD, it would take a lot of children who eat a balanced diet of Mediterranean style, which is very balanced, and perform a test with children to see if it really improves your ability to read or write.
Conclusion
Not all children participating in the trial showed large gains in behavior, spelling and reading, and children showed large increases were in my opinion children who were badly deficient in Omega 3 and through a poor diet.
The correct approach is to supplement children with fish oil, but to dramatically improve eating habits the child, following the example of a Mediterranean diet that includes fish oil, and trying to cut all additives and preservatives and the wrong kind of "bad fats." As most parents know that this is almost impossible, but changing some small things about diet make a difference. As oil capsules fish, if you can not really get your child to eat oily fish then, as this study shows that supplementing with high fish oil supplement quality is highly recommended for your child can get the right amount of Omega 3 in their diet.
About the Author
The author Dave McEvoy has CFS and bipolar disorder with a history of schizophrenia in his family. Dave also runs a high quality supplement site http://www.mind1st.co.uk.
