title: Omega-3 fatty acids are inversely related to callous and unemotional traits in adolescent boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: A number of research studies have reported abnormal plasma fatty acid profiles in children with ADHD along with some benefit of n-3 to symptoms of ADHD. However, it is currently unclear whether (lower) long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are related to ADHD pathology or to associated behaviours. The aim of this study was to test whether (1) ADHD children have abnormal plasma LC-PUFA levels and (2) ADHD symptoms and associated behaviours are correlated with LC-PUFA levels. Seventy-two, male children with (n=29) and without a clinical diagnosis of ADHD (n=43) were compared in their plasma levels of LC-PUFA. Plasma DHA was higher in the control group prior to statistical correction. Callous-unemotional (CU) traits were found to be significantly negatively related to both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and total omega-3 in the ADHD group. The findings unveil for the first time that CU and anti-social traits in ADHD are associated with lower omega-3 levels.
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, UK. Rachel.gow@nih.gov
authors.forename: Rachel V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Gow
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vallee-Tourangeau
authors.forename: Michael Angus
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Kebreab
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghebremeskel
authors.forename: Allain A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hibbeln
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sumich
authors.forename: Katya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rubia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid