Ana Beatriz Ferreira Rolim
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brasil
Anna Carolyna Gianlorenco
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Spaulding Neuromodulation Center/ UFSCAR Brazil
Arthur Andrade Braga
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health
Belen Rivera
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Bruno Francisco Buzetti Spinelli
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; IDOR- Instituto D’or de Pesquisa e Ensino,RJ, Brazil
Camila María Martínez Marte
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Pontifica Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Danilo Hantschick Fernandes Monteiro
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Elisa Rodriguez
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Eneidy Pina
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Universidad Iberoamericana
Eva Dias Costa
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Portucalense University, Porto, Portugal
Ewerton Alves Portela dos Santos
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Department of Medical Affairs, Clinical Studies and Post-Registration Surveillance (DEAME)/ Bio-Manguinhos- Fiocruz
Gabriel Sant'Ana Carrijo
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; FMABC University Center
Gabriella Moreira Requião
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Faculty ZARNS, Salvador, Brazil
Gilberto Perez Rodriguez Garcia
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; University of Florida. Gainesville, Florida
Iyanuoluwa O. Ojo
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Faculty of Nursing University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Oyo State Nigeria
Kasiemobi Eberechukwu Uchime
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Department of Anatomic Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti Multi-System hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Luciana Valentina Olivera González
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Universidad San Martin de Porres, Lima, Perú
Luiz Fernando Mantovani
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Barretos Cancer Hospital
Maraisa do Nascimento
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Instituto de Educação Médica IDOMED - Centro Universitário Estácio do Pantanal
María Alejandra Rodríguez Brilla
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
Marília Aparecida Silva Oliveira Machado
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Mutwakil Elbidiari
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Department of pharmacy, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha Qatar
Natasha Carvalho Pandolfi
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; A C Camargo Câncer Center, São Paulo, Brazil
Nicole Nakousi-Capurro
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Clinical Geneticist, Pediatrics Unit, Carlos Van Buren Hospital, Valparaíso, Chile
Qudus Olajide Lawal
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Irrua Nigeria
Tamara Zompa
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Charles Centro Oftalmologico, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tatiane Aparecida de Miranda
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; State University of Western Paraná
Tomás Ignacio Rybertt Lorca
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago, Chile
Tomás Pablos Aros
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Clínica Davila, Santiago, Chile.
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.
