title: The impact of polyunsaturated fatty acids in reducing child attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the impact of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in reducing ADHD symptoms in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peer-reviewed experimental literature published from 1980 to Mai 2009 is consulted (Psychinfo, Medline, and resulting reference lists).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Placebo-controlled studies with ADHD or hyperactive children show no effects on behaviors or cognition when only n-6 (omega-6) PUFA, only docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or n-6 and n-3 (omega-3) short-chain PUFA are supplemented. Yet three out of four studies suggest that a combination of long-chain n-3 and n-6 fatty acids (DHA, eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], and gamma-linolenic acid [GLA]) supplemented daily for 3 to 4 months could lead to a reduction in ADHD symptomatology. Results on cognitive outcomes are inconsistent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence is too limited to reach definitive conclusions but suggests that research on the impact of long-chain PUFA (n-3 and n-6) should continue with special focus on individual differences (genetic and fatty acid markers), mechanisms (brain imaging), and new enhanced methods of systematic observations of behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Unilever Food and Health Research Institute, the Netherlands. catherine.transler@unilever.com
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Transler
authors.forename: Ans
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eilander
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van de Meer
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated