Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review
Year: 2025
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: INTRODUCTION. Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a significant population of children. Omega-3 supplementation is being explored as an option since standard pharmacological treatments cause bothersome side effects. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses on its effects are outdated and show gaps in knowledge. Our objective is to examine the impact of Omega-3 fatty acids on the symptoms of ADHD in children. METHODS. RCTs were searched in MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science until May 1st 2024. Studies were included if they involved children aged 6-18 with ADHD who consumed Omega-3 fatty acids through diet or supplementation. Studies were excluded if they included individuals without an ADHD diagnosis, used animal models, or included vitamin supplements alongside Omega-3. Data extraction and Cochrane Risk-of-Bias analysis was performed using Covidence. Findings were described in tables and analyzed. RESULTS. Thirty-one eligible RCTs were included, amounting to 2,739 evaluated individuals with an average age of 8.93 years (SD = 1.39). Most studies had a two-arms design that compared Omega-3 vs. placebo. The effect on hyperactivity and impulsivity was reported in 23 studies, of which fourteen showed no effect and seven reported positive results. Ten out of 24 studies (41.6%) that evaluated inattention reported improvements. DISCUSSION. Studies were highly heterogeneous in design, interventions, trial duration, dosage, and outcome measurement tools. Overall, Omega-3 may not have a significant effect on ADHD symptoms to recommend its use. Future research should address the principal limitations on study designs.
Authors: Ana Beatriz Ferreira Rolim, Ana Carolyna Gianlorenco, Arthur Andrade Braga, Belen Rivera, Bruno Francisco Buzetti Spinelli, IDOR – Instituto D’Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Camila Maria Martinez Marte, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Dominican Republic, Danilo Hantschick Fernandes Monteiro, Elisa Rodriguez, Eneidy Pina, Universidad Iberoamericana, Eva Dias Costa, Ewerton Alves Portela dos Santos, DEAME / Bio-Manguinhos – Fiocruz, Gabriel Sant'Ana Carrijo, Gabriella Moreira Requiao, Gilberto Perez Rodriguez Garcia, Iyanuoluwa O. Ojo, Kasiemobi Eberechukwu Uchime, Luciana Valentina Olivera Gonzalez, Universidad San Martin de Porres, Lima, Perú, Luiz Fernando Mantovani, Maraisa do Nascimento, Instituto de Educação Médica IDOMED – Centro Universitário Estácio do Pantanal, Maria Alejandra Rodriguez Brilla, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, Maria Aparecida Silva Oliveira Machado, Mutwakil Elbidiari, Natasha Carvalho Pandolfi, Nicole Nakousi-Capurro, Qudus Olajide Lawal, Tamara Zompa, Charles Centro Oftalmológico, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tatiane Aparecida de Miranda, Tomas Ignacio Rybertt Lorca, Tomas Pablos Aros, Clínica Dávila, Santiago, Chile, Bassel Almarie, Clara Maria Raggio, Jorge Sakon, Julia Minetto, Kaliana Nascimento, Karla Loureiro Loss, Laura Matos, São Leopoldo Mandic, Brazil, Maria Alejandra Fernandes Casseres, Monica Rosales-Salan, Siham Shweiki, Jerusalem Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, Israel
Institutions: Harvard University, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, D’Or Institute for Research and Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Universidad Iberoamericana, Universidad Iberoamericana, Universidad Iberoamericana, Universidade Portucalense, Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, University of Florida, University of Ibadan, Afe Babalola University, Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Universidad de Los Andes, Hamad Medical Corporation, AC Camargo Hospital, Hospital Carlos Van Buren, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Hospital del Trabajador, Clínica Dávila, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Bergamo Est, Garrahan Hospital, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Israel Ministry of Health
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409602371