Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice

Omega‑3 and Zinc supplementation as complementary therapies in children with attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Bahman Salehi 1
. Abolfazl Mohammadbeigi 2
. Hamid Sheykholeslam 3
. Esmail Moshiri 4
. Fatemeh Dorreh 5

1 Department of Psychiatry, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Neurology and Neuroscience Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

3 Department of Pediatric, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Anesthesiology, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

5 Department of Pediatric, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of zinc and omega‑3 supplements as 
adjunctive drugs in the treatment of attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) of children.
Methods: This study is a randomized, double‑blind clinical trial conducted on 150 
children aged 6–15 years old that diagnosed as new cases of ADHD. Study subjects 
were evaluated for 8 weeks. Besides of drug of choice (methylphenidate) for the ADHD, 
patients received placebo in the control group (n = 50), zinc sulfate in second group 
(n = 50), and omega‑3 (n = 50) in third group. Clinical improvement was checking 
by Conners’ Parent and Teacher Rating Scales before and in 2nd, 4th, and 8th week of 
treatment. Results were analyzed with SPSS version 16 software.
Findings: In this study, mean scores of Conners’ scale showed significant improvement 
during treatment in the zinc group compared to control group in children that affected 
to attention‑deficit disorder subtype of ADHD (P = 0.02). Moreover, in omega‑3 group, 
better clinical response was seen than other groups (P < 0.05). However, there was no 
significant difference between omega‑3 group compared to placebo group in the mean 
scores of Conners’ scale (P = 0.89).
Conclusion: Zinc supplementation accompanied by the main treatment significantly 
improves symptom of attention‑deficit disorder subtype of ADHD. However, omega‑3 
supplementation was superior to zinc and placebo in the clinical improvement of ADHD.

Keywords

Attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder
complementary treatment
  Methylphenidate
Omega‑3
Zinc
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Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice
Volume 5, Issue 1
Winter 2016
Pages 22-26

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