Fatty Acids & ADHD (2007)

This study investigated fatty acids & ADHD. Two studies were conducted to determine whether physical signs of fatty acid deficiencies such as dry hair and skin, frequent thirst and urination were a good indicator of whether fatty acid supplementation could potentially improve ADHD symptoms in children both with ADHD and those without the disorder. It was found that the physical symptoms of deficiency did not reliably predict which children would have behavioural benefits from supplementation.

Sinn N.’ Physical fatty acid deficiency signs in children with ADHD symptoms’. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2007 Aug;77(2):109-15

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Food Intolerance & ADHD (2011)

This study investigated food intolerance & ADHD. Researchers from Holland’s Radboud University set out to answer this question by placing 100 children between the ages of 4 and 8 on a restricted diet containing only rice, meat, vegetables, pears and water, therefore free of all gluten and casein. ADHD symptoms were reduced in 78 per cent of children placed on the diet. “We think that dietary intervention should be considered in all children with ADHD, provided parents are willing to follow a diagnostic restricted elimination diet for a five-week period, and provided expert supervision is available,” said the authors. An alternative strategy is IgG food intolerance testing.

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Fatty Acids & ADHD (2007)

This study investigated fatty acids & ADHD. The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial involving 132 children with ADHD. Significant medium to strong positive treatment effects were found on parent ratings of core ADHD symptoms, inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, on the Conners Parent Rating Scale (CPRS) in both PUFA treatment groups compared with the placebo group; no additional effects were found with the micronutrients. After a one-way crossover to active supplements in all groups for a further 15 weeks, these results were replicated in the placebo group, and the treatment groups continued to show significant improvements on CPRS core symptoms. No significant effects were found on Conners Teacher Rating Scales.

N Sinn, ‘Effect of supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids and micronutrients on learning and behavior problems associated with child’ Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 28(2); 82-91, 2007

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Low Carbohydrate Diet & Alzheimer’s (2012)

This study investigated low carbohydrate diet & Alzheimer’s. In this study 23 Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment were randomly assigned either a low or high carbohydrate diet.  Body composition, metabolic parameters, and memory and mood measures were obtained before and after the intervention. There was no group difference in demographics, level of memory impairment, or metabolic parameters before the intervention. At the end of the intervention period, there were significant reductions in weight, waist circumference and glucose levels for the low carbohydrate group. Furthermore, verbal memory function was significantly improved for the low carbohydrate subjects. Depressive symptoms were not affected by either diet. These findings indicate that ketosis induced by very low carbohydrate consumption, even in the short-term, can improve cognitive function in older adults with greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease. This study is a first in its field and the findings warrant further investigation.

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Krikorian, R., Shidler, M. D., Dangelo, K., Couch, S. C., Benoit, S. C., & Clegg, D. J. (2012). Dietary ketosis enhances memory in mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiology of aging, 33(2), 425.e19–425.e4.25E27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.10.006

Nutrition in Children (2006)

This study explored nutrition in children. This study sought to examine the relationship between food poverty (defined as those individuals who go to school or bed hungry because there is not enough food at home) and food consumption, health and life satisfaction among 8424 school children from the Republic of Ireland, aged between 10 and 17 years. Each participant completed a questionnaire, which assessed social class, dietary composition, eating habits and the presence of emotional and physical symptoms including feeling low, nervous, bad tempered, afraid, tired, exhausted and suffering from headache, stomachache, backache, dizziness and neck of shoulder pain. The questionnaire also assessed the children’s feelings about life and life satisfaction.

Children experiencing food poverty reported lower intakes of fruit, vegetables and brown bread and higher intakes of crisps, fried potatoes and hamburgers. They also had increased risk of experiencing somatic and mental symptoms and experienced negative health perceptions and lower life satisfaction.

Molcho, M et al., ‘Food poverty and health among schoolchildren in Ireland: findings from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study’, Public Health Nutrition, 10(4), 364-370, 2006 June

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Nutrients & Brain Aging (2011)

This study investigated nutrients & brain aging. In this ground-breaking study, 104 healthy elderly people (with an average age of 87) had blood levels of 30 different nutrients measured. Mean age was 87 ± 10 years and 62% of subjects were female. Results suggested that two NBPs associated with more favourable cognitive and MRI measures: one high in plasma vitamins B (B1, B2, B6, folate, and B12), C, D, and E, and another high in plasma marine ω-3 fatty acids. A third pattern characterized by high trans fat was associated with less favourable cognitive function and less total cerebral brain volume. Depression attenuated the relationship between the marine ω-3 pattern and white matter hyperintensity volume.

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Bowman GL, Silbert LC, Howieson D, Dodge HH, Traber MG, Frei B, Kaye JA, Shannon J, Quinn JF (2011) Nutrient biomarker patterns, cognitive function, and MRI measures of brain aging. Neurology Dec 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Essential fatty acids & mental health (2005)

The study investigated essential fatty acids & mental health. A review finds that there is an association between depression and low dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and that low levels of the fatty acids in red blood cell membranes are found in both depressive and schizophrenic patients. Five of six double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in schizophrenia, and four of six such trials in depression, have reported therapeutic benefit from omega-3 fatty acids in particularly when EPA is added on to existing psychotropic medication. Individual clinical trials have suggested benefits of EPA treatment in borderline personality disorder and of combined omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The evidence to date supports the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the management of treatment unresponsive depression and schizophrenia alongside medication. As these conditions are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus, omega-3 fatty acids should also benefit the physical state of these patients.

Peet & Stokes, ‘Omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of psychiatric disorders ‘, Drugs, 65(8):1051-9, 2005

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