ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia & Behavioural Disorders

Some Useful information about Dyslexia

Specific essential fatty acids can play a significant role in conditions such as ADHD, ADD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism.

Supplementation with high quality, concentrated Omega 3 EPA may offer a safe and effective way of managing such conditions, as well as for mood and concentration generally. (Also see "Are you getting enough?")

Some Interesting Facts

• About 20% of the dry weight of the brain, and 30% of the retina are made of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). Substantial evidence shows that certain fatty acids are crucial for optimum brain functioning.
• Youngsters reared for longer on human breastmilk -- a rich HUFA source -- have more developed visual and mental skills (1).
• Brain scans of dyslexic adults via Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) have shown anomalies of membrane phospholipid turnover that are consistent with fatty acid deficiencies or imbalances (2).
• The severity of reading and related difficulties in children with dyslexia has been associated with fatty acid deficiency signs, like excessive thirst, dry bumpy skin, brittle nails and dandruff (3), and dyslexic adults show significantly more of these signs than non-dyslexic adults (4).
• Blood biochemical analysis confirmed fatty acid deficiencies in dyslexic children showing these kinds of physical symptoms, with both physical health and schoolwork improving following supplementation (5).
• In this area, EPA seems more important than DHA. Case studies of dyslexics have demonstrated significant improvements in reading and spelling measures following supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (6). Brain imaging with MRS initially showed the same abnormality of membrane phospholipid turnover found in dyslexic adults, which normalised following EPA treatment (7).
• The first randomised controlled trial of fatty acid supplementation in dyslexic children showed that treatment with omega-3 and omega-6 HUFA led to significant improvements in attention and concentration and reduced behaviour problems (8).

References

1. Erik Lykke Mortensen EL, Michaelsen KF, Sanders SA, Reinisch JM. The Association Between Duration of Breastfeeding and Adult Intelligence. JAMA. 2002;287:2365-2371

2. Richardson AJ, Cox IJ, Sargentoni J, Puri BK (1997) Abnormal cerebral phospholipid metabolism in dyslexia indicated by phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy, NMR Biomed, 10: 309-314.

3. Richardson AJ, Calvin CM, Clisby C, Schoenheimer DR, Montgomery P, Hall JA, Hebb G, Westwood E, Talcott JB, Stein JF (2000) Fatty acid deficiency signs predict the severity of reading and related difficulties in dyslexic children. Prostaglandins Leukotr. Essent. Fatty Acids, 63: 69-74.

4. Taylor KE, Higgins CJ, Calvin CM, Hall JA, Easton T, McDaid AM, Richardson AJ (2000) Dyslexia in adults is associated with clinical signs of fatty acid deficiency. Prostaglandins Leukotr Essent Fatty Acids, 63: 75-78.

5. Baker SM (1985) A biochemical approach to the problem of dyslexia, J Learn Disabil, 18: 581-584.

6. Richardson AJ and Puri BK. Sustained Remission of Symptoms Following Treatment with Eicosapentaenoic Acid in a Case of Schizophrenia with Dyslexia. Phospholipid Spectrum Disorder in Psychiatry, Marius Press, 1999, pp 181-188

7. Puri BK, Richardson AJ, Horrobin DF, Easton T, Saeed N, Oatridge A, Hajnal JV, Bydder GM (2000), Eicosapentaenoic acid treatment in schizophrenia associated with symptom remission, normalization of blood fatty acids, reduced neuronal membrane phospholipid turnover, and structural brain changes, International Journal of Clinical Practice, 54(1): 57-63.

8. Richardson AJ, Puri BK (2002) A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of supplementation with highly unsaturated fatty acids on ADHD-related symptoms in children with specific learning difficulties. Prog Neuropsychopharm Biol Psychiat, 26(2), 233-9.