Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: observational and interventional studies

FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:

This reference relates to a conference presentation that included the preliminary results from studies carried out at Purdue University to investigate the effects of fatty acid treatment in ADHD children. At that time, the full results of the treatment study had not yet been published, but details can now be found in:

• Stevens L, Zhang W, Peck L, Kuczek T, Grevstad N, Mahon A, Zentall SS, Arnold LE, Burgess JR. EFA Supplementation in Children with Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Other Disruptive Behaviours. Lipids 2003, 38 1007-21.

Results from many of the experimental studies can be found in other papers by this group, including:

• Stevens LJ, Zentall SS, Abate ML, Kuczek T and Burgess JR. Omega-3 fatty acids in boys with behavior, learning, and health problems. Physiol-Behav 1996, 59: 915-920.

• Stevens LJ, Zentall SS, Deck JL, Abate ML, Watkins BA, Lipp SR and Burgess JR. Essential fatty acid metabolism in boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Am J Clin Nutr 1995, 62: 761-768.

• Burgess JR, Stevens L, Zhang W and Peck L. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Am-J-Clin-Nutr 2000, 71: 327S-330S.