Efficacy of Omega-3/Omega-6 Fatty Acids in Preschool Children at Risk of ADHD: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

To evaluate the efficacy of an Omega-3/Omega-6 fatty acid supplement in preschool children at risk for ADHD. Forty preschool children with elevated levels of ADHD symptoms were randomly assigned to either a verum or a placebo group. Children in the verum group received a 4-month treatment with Omega-3/Omega-6 fatty acids. Outcome measures comprised parent- and teacher-rated ADHD symptoms, which were the primary outcome variables, internalizing and externalizing problems, and intellectual abilities. Intention-to-treat analyses of covariance, controlling for age and baseline data, revealed effects on parent- and teacher-rated ADHD symptoms (primary outcomes; parent ratings: = 4.51, = 1, = .04, = 0.63; teacher ratings: = 4.67, = 1, = .04, = 0.70), parent-rated internalizing symptoms ( = 8.47, = 1, < .01, = 0.63), and parent- and teacher-rated externalizing symptoms (parent ratings: = 4.58, = 1, = .04, = 0.54; teacher ratings: = 5.99, = 1, = .02, = 0.79). Analyses involving only cases with available data yielded significant moderate effects on teacher-rated inattention symptoms ( = 4.60, = 1, = .04, = 0.79) and parent-rated internalizing problems ( = 6.04, = 1, = .02, = 0.57). The intention-to-treat analyses provide some evidence for positive effects of Omega-3/Omega-6 fatty acids. However, the results require replication in larger samples to allow for firm conclusions for practice.