Efficacy and Safety of Omega-3/6 Fatty Acids, Methylphenidate, and a Combined Treatment in Children With ADHD.
To compare efficacy of Omega-3/6 fatty acids (Equazen eye q™) with methylphenidate (MPH) and combined MPH + Omega-3/6 in children with ADHD.



Participants ( N = 90) were randomized to Omega-3/6, long-acting MPH, or combination for 12 months. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the ADHD Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) scale.



ADHD symptoms decreased in all treatment arms. Although significant differences favoring Omega + MPH over Omega-3/6 alone were found for ADHD Total and Hyperactivity-Impulsivity subscales, results on the Inattention subscale were similar. CGI-S scores decreased slowly and consistently with Omega-3/6, compared with a rapid decrease and subsequent slight increase in the MPH-containing arms. Adverse events were numerically less frequent with Omega-3/6 or MPH + Omega-3/6 than MPH alone.



The tested combination of Omega-3/6 fatty acids had similar effects to MPH, whereas the MPH + Omega combination appeared to have some tolerability benefits over MPH.
1 The Federico Gómez Children's Hospital of Mexico.
Eduardo
E
Barragán
2 University Hospital Cologne, Germany.
Dieter
D
Breuer
2 University Hospital Cologne, Germany.
Manfred
M
Döpfner
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D008774:Methylphenidate
ADHD; children; methylphenidate; nonpharmacological treatment; omega fatty acids