|
Abstract
Research project at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
The study: "The Effect of randomized supplementation with high dose olive oil, flax or fish oil on derum phospholipid fatty acid levels in adults with attention deficit hyperacticity disorder.
Published in the Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 45 (2005) 549-558
Abstract.
Juvenile Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), has been associated with deficiencies of certain fatty acids. Despite this, research involving blood phospholipid fatty acid levels in adults with ADHD is limited. In this study, 30 adults with ADHD were randomized to 12 weeks of supplementation with high does (60g) of olive oil (<1% Omega-3 fatty acids), flax oil (60% Omega-3 fatty acids as alpha linolenic acid;_-LNA; 18:3n-3) or fish oil (65% omega-3 fatty acids as <1%_-LNA, 38% eicosapentaenoic acid; EPA; 20:5n-3, 20% docosahexaenoic acid; DHA; 22:6n-3). Serum phospholipid fatty acid levels were determined at baseline and at 12 weeks. 26 subjects completed the study. There were no changes in serum Phospholipid fatty acid composition with olive oil supplementation. Flax oil supplementation resulted only in a decrease in the arachidonic acid (20:4n-6;AA)/EPA ratio and an increase in _-LNA. Fish oil supplementation resulted in increases in EPA, DHA, total omega-3 fatty acids and the omega-3/omega-6 ratio and decreases in EPA, DHA, total omega-3 fatty acids and the omega-3/omega-6 ratio and decreases in linolenic acid (18:2n-6; LA), 20:5n-6, total omega-6 fatty acids, the AA/EPA ratio and the omega-6/omega-3 ratio. These data suggest that in order to increase levels of various omega-3 fatty acids in serum phospholipids of adults with ADHD, high dose fish oil may be preferable to high dose flaxseed oil.
Key words: Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, flaxseed oil, attention deficit disorder, adults