Vitamins for ADHD, More Omega-3 Info

Perhaps the single most effective ADHD vitamins/supplements are the Omega-3 fatty acids.  Studies have reported fairly consistent improvement in the ADHD inattention scores of ADHD children and adults who are taking supplemental Omega-3 fatty acids.  As far as vitamins for ADHD are concerned, the Omega-3s are one of the 'heavy hitters'.

The Omega-3s are not the only beneficial vitamins for ADHD but before I move on to discuss other ADHD vitamins and supplements there are a few bits of information that I thought I should include or emphasize.

ADHD Vitamins and Omega-3 for ADHD

In the interest of the ADHD reader (that would be anyone reading on the web), I will list these in list form.

1. Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are important for brain function as well as other important bodily functions.
2. The Omega-3 fatty acids are a natural substance found in fatty fish, in some seeds and nuts such as flax seed and walnuts and also in certain vegetable oils. Omega-3 fatty acids can also be taken as a dietary supplement.
3. The Omega-3 fatty acids may be poorly absorbed AND Metabolized by people with ADHD.
4. The ratio of fats in the diet is as important as the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids consumed. Too much intake of the "bad" fats found in foods such as deep fried offerings will totally interfere with the proper absorption and effectiveness of the Omega-3 fatty acids. Eating a high dose of 'bad' fats will nullify or decrease any benefits that might have been had from taking this ADHD vitamin/supplement. 
5. Taking Omega-3 fatty acids in food form is ALWAYS better than taking this ADHD vitamin/supplement is pill form.
6. Certain other vitamins such as zinc, magnesium, and vitamin C and Vitamin E play a crucial role in the metabolism and absorption of the essential fatty acids. 
7. The essential fatty acids are prone to oxidative damage and as a result it is necessary to take dietary anti-oxidants in order to diminish this oxidative process. Vitamin E is a fat soluble anti-oxidant that can stick around for longer periods of time within our bodies and for this reason may be more beneficial as an anti-oxidant than some of the other water soluble anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin C. 
8. Not all essential fatty acids are created equal. According to Nicholas Iverson, who writes the very comprehensive and detailed scientific ADHD Treatment Blog, the three different omega-3 fatty acids all play a role in improving ADHD. Iverson reports that "Among the omega 3-fatty acids, perhaps the most important is called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The human body is unable to produce this type of fat, so it must be obtained via dietary measures. The body can then convert ALA to two other types of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid). Both DHA and EPA can be incorporated into cell membranes, giving them a more flexible conformation. Not surprisingly, all three of these omega-3's (ALA, DHA and EPA) are currently popular supplements and health-food items." Iverson also states that the ADHD vitamins/supplements called EPA may be the Omega-3 most likely to help ADHD but that all three of these Omega-3s are important in their own way.
9. The recommended dosage of the Omega-3 fatty acids is not written in stone but most experts agree that for adults and children, a dosage of 1-3 grams of a fish oil tablet daily can help the symptoms of ADHD.
10. According to the National Institute of Health, National Center for Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, The FDA has concluded that omega-3 dietary supplements from fish are recognized as safe but in some people they may cause minor gastrointestinal upsets, including diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, and abdominal bloating. The NIH reports that in high doses, fish oil can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners and drugs used for high blood pressure.
11. When choosing an Omega-3 fatty acid ADHD vitamin/supplements, chose one that states on the bottle that it has been tested and found to be free of heavy metals such as mercury and that is guaranteed to be free of environmental toxins such as PCBs or polychlorinated biphenyls.
12. Patients should always consult with their physician before starting any ADHD vitamins or supplements.

Vitamins for ADHD and the Omega-3 Fatty acids

In closing, I would like to recommend that anyone with or without ADHD supplement their diet with foods rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids.  In grocery stores today, you can find milk, bread, eggs and other products that have supplemental Omega-3 fatty acids included.  Inattention and other ADHD behaviors can be improved by increasing the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet.  If you or your child are unable to eat a diet that is rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids than you should consider supplementing your diet with an ADHD vitamins/supplement rich in Omega-3s.

ADHD Vitamin and Omega-3s

In the last post about Omega – 3 fatty acids and ADHD vitamins we spoke about the studies that have shown that people with ADHD, Inattentive and  Combined type have deficiencies in blood levels of the essential fatty acids including the Omega-3 fatty acids and that these fatty acid may play the most important role in improving our health, our ADHD symptoms and our mood.

ADHD Vitamins and Omega-3

We discussed the fact that genetics may take part in the inability of people with ADHD to metabolize these fatty acid ADHD vitamins and supplements and we discussed how adding Omega-3 fatty acids to the diet of people with ADHD improves their inattention, impulsive behavior and mood.

The trick to getting enough of the good ADHD vitamins and fatty acids into your body if you have a problem metabolizing Omega-3 may lie in giving the Omega-3 as a cocktail with other ADHD vitamins.  These other ADHD vitamins when given in combination with the Omega-3 fatty acids are known the help with fatty acid metabolism.

A few studies have looked into the question of improving the metabolism of the ADHD vitamins such as Omega-3s in people with the symptoms of ADHD by adding other vitamins to the ADHD supplement.  A German study gave children with ADHD a food supplement that contained magnesium, zinc, and Omega-3.  The researchers of this study found that after 12 weeks of taking the combination ADHD vitamin supplement, the children showed 'considerable' improvement in hyperactive/impulsive symptoms and in also in their levels of attention.

Zinc, magnesium and the omega-3 fatty acids are thought to help ADHD in different ways and it appears that in the case of these ADHD vitamins, the combination of magnesium, zinc and omega-3, acts in such a way that they either improve the brain use of Omega-3s or in some other way combine to improve ADHD symptoms.

The doses of Omega-3 fatty acids that were used in the Germans study were 400mg of the Omega-3 fatty acids known as EPA, a day.  DHA, another Omega-3 ADHD vitamin supplement was given at a dose of 40mg a day.  The children also received ADHD vitamins in the form of 5mg of zinc a day and 80mg of daily magnesium.

People with ADHD may have a problem with the way their bodies take in and use fatty acids.  Eating too many foods with trans-fats such as foods that are deep fried may throw off the balance of fatty acids in our bodies.  The lack of balance between the good and the bad fats may lead to symptoms of disease and to the worsening of ADHD symptoms.

Taking Omega-3 fatty acids and/or ADHD vitamins may help people with ADHD correct the problems that they have with their body’s use of the fatty acids.  Supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids may help the symptoms of ADHD.  The addition of zinc and magnesium may allow the brain’s of people with ADHD to use the fatty acids in a more effective way.

Eating Salmon Improves levels of ADHD vitamins and Omega -3s

Omega-3 fatty acids when taken as supplements hold great promise for improving the symptoms of ADHD.  Eating a diet rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids is the best solution but most people do not eat enough fish, seeds and nuts to get all the Omega-3s that their body’s need.  Taking supplemental Omega-3 may be the answer as this ADHD vitamin supplement has been found to improve the behavioral problems, inattention and other symptoms of ADHD.