The potential role of fatty acids in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

@article{Richardson2000ThePR,
  title={The potential role of fatty acids in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.},
  author={Alexandra J. Richardson and Basant K. Puri},
  journal={Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids},
  year={2000},
  volume={63 1-2},
  pages={
          79-87
        }
}
  • A. RichardsonB. Puri
  • Published 1 July 2000
  • Biology, Psychology
  • Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids
As currently defined, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) encompasses a broad constellation of behavioural and learning problems and its definition and diagnosis remain controversial. The aetiology of ADHD is acknowledged to be both complex and multifactorial. The proposal considered here is that at least some features of ADHD may reflect an underlying abnormality of fatty acid metabolism. Clinical and biochemical evidence is discussed which suggests that a functional deficiency of… 
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Highly Influential Citations
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Background Citations
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129 Citations

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Omega-3 fatty acids in ADHD and related neurodevelopmental disorders

  • A. Richardson
  • Psychology, Medicine
    International review of psychiatry
  • 2006
Omega-3 is not supported by current evidence as a primary treatment for ADHD or related conditions, but given their relative safety and general health benefits, omega-3 fatty acids offer a promising complementary approach to standard treatments.

Essential fatty acids and attention‐deficit–hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review

  • R. RazL. Gabis
  • Psychology, Medicine
    Developmental medicine and child neurology
  • 2009
The current review provides an updated, systematic overview of the theory and use of EFA in ADHD.

Fatty acid metabolism in neurodevelopmental disorder: a new perspective on associations between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia and the autistic spectrum.

  • A. RichardsonM. Ross
  • Psychology, Medicine
    Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids
  • 2000
This proposal could explain the high degree of co-morbidity between these conditions, their aggregation within families and relation to other psychiatric disorders, and a range of associated features that are already well known at a clinical level.
...

86 References

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

A subgroup of ADHD subjects reporting many symptoms indicative of EFA deficiency (L-ADHD) had significantly lower proportions of plasma arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid than did ADHD subjects with few such symptoms or control subjects, and subjects with lower compositions of total n-3 fatty acids had significantly more behavioral problems.

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The present study found that 53 subjects with ADHD had significantly lower concentrations of key fatty acids in the plasma polar lipids and in red blood cell total lipids than did the 43 control subjects.

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The correlations of serum lipids and behavior are examined in a double-blind crossover comparison of GLA, d-amphetamine, and placebo in 16 boys (ages 6-12) with ADHD.

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There were no significant differences in the prevalence of ADDH by age or urban-rural status, but the disorder was significantly more common in boys than in girls.
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