DIETARY OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS SUPPLIMENTATION FOR
ATTENTION DEFICIT WITH HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER IN
EPILEPTIC CHILDREN
OANA TARŢA-ARSENE1#*, MĂDĂLINA LEANCA1#, ALICE DICĂ1#, EMA BRAN1#, FLORINA RAD1#, OLIVIA TIMNEA2#, DANIELA PĂCURAR3#, BRUNO ȘTEFAN VELESCU4#, ALINA CRENGUȚA NICOLAE5#, CRISTINA MANUELA DRĂGOI5#
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, “Al. Obregia” Clinical Hospital, 10 Berceni Street, 041914, Bucharest, Romania
2Physical and Sport Faculty, Ecological University of Bucharest, Romania
3“Grigore Alexandrescu” Clinic Paediatric Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
4Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and
Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, Bucharest, 020956, Romania
5Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia
Street, Bucharest, 020956, Romania
*corresponding author: otartaarsene@yahoo.com
#All authors have equal contribution.
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Abstract:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly frequent childhood disease usually treated with neurotropic
stimulant drugs, therapy with serious side effects especially for children with neurologic comorbidities. Considering the low
levels of essential fatty acids in children’s serum with this disorder, the present study evaluated the effects of dietary omega-3
fatty acids supplementation in ADHD children with epilepsy. 17 children with epilepsy and ADHD have been clinically
evaluated concerning neurological, psychiatric, psychological, EEG, biochemical (urinary catecholamines) parameters. They
received supplements with omega-3 fatty acids for 6 months (with re-evaluation of the biochemical markers and the
psychological tests-Conners questionnaire). 14 children accomplished the study. All patients had high scores of ADHD
questionnaires before adding-on the dietary supplement and after 6 months, 75% showed a significant improvement, by
measuring the symptoms of inattention and impulsivity, academic and language difficulties. Regarding the catecholamines’
(namely adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine), our results showed a significant decrease of their levels in urine, compared
to baseline. Regarding the behavioural benefit in combination with the low risk due to a good safety profile, the dietary
supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids offers a promising complementary approach to standard therapy.






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