Signs of Omega deficiency?

[Shananigan]

Hi! I'm new to this forum, but have been reading it with great interest. I just picked up our first prescription of Adderall for my 10yods, and will start it tomorrow. My 8 yodd will be next. They both are highly inattentive. Both tend to display explosive anger as a means of focusing. Both are bright, but struggling greatly with schoolwork and losing confidence daily. My plan has been to try the Adderall while starting the supplements, then hopefully we'll be able to drop the Adderall.

I've been reading about the different supplements and have even started an on-line shopping list, but I'm getting cold feet. Neither of them shows signs of an Omega deficiency--dry skin, dandruff, excema, etc. Is this normal? I mean, am I silly to go this route when there are no such symptoms?

Everyone who posts boards seems to have a success story. Are there those for whom the supplements don't work? What are my chances?

I have ADD myself, and tend to get all excited about something but then burn out rather quickly. I want to do what's right for my kids, but I know it is going to be really hard for me to keep up the regime for 6 months without seeing results. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[foley]

Hi,
Your boys are showing signs of an omega fatty acid deficiency.

"A Purdue University study showed that kids low in Omega-3 essential fatty acids are significantly more likely to be hyperactive, have learning disorders, and to display behavioral problems. Omega-3 deficiencies have also been tied to dyslexia, violence, depression, memory problems, weight gain, cancer, heart disease, eczema, allergies, inflammatory diseases, arthritis, diabetes, and many other conditions. Over 2,000 scientific studies have demonstrated the wide range of problems associated with Omega-3 deficiencies."

You can read the full article at:

borntoexplore.org/omega.htm


We actually went the medication route first, for approx. 2 years things went from pretty bad to horrendous.

We've found faster and more effective results when we weaned him from all meds, started the Feingold Elimination Program( www.feingold.org ), and added quality supplements (omega fatty acid, daily multi-mineral, and recently magnesium glycinate.)

The omega supplement will not hurt your boys so there's no harm trying, the only thing is that you may not be sure what's doing the trick--the omega or the adderall. BTW my son developed tics on adderall which was the last straw for me. And although the psych. assured me it was impossible, he did go through withdrawal when we weaned him.

I would give the supplements a shot first--I wish I had gone that route first, but I had no idea this could treated any other way.

HTH
Foley

[foley]

PS
It didn't take us six months to see results. It took about six weeks on the Feingold Program, and only a week to see a difference with the Omega supplements.

[catatonic]

Shananigan,
Welcome to the forum. Your boys sound very much like my problem child (and you sound a lot like me!) You're right that it can be difficult to wait for results, especially since many of us, by the time we seek treatment for our children, have reached the point of desperation. Medication offers immediate relief, but I believe that it merely treats symptoms, much like tylenol for a brain tumor. Those of us who have found success through nutritional treatments - like supplements and the Feingold program - have generally gone through a great deal of trial-and-error before finding what works for us. It's not easy, but I know that for me, it's been more than worth it in order to keep my boy free of medication.

I think a 6-month commitment is realistic, although we saw very noticeable results in about 6 weeks. Our first step was the Feingold diet. (You can read about the program at www.feingold.org ) This resulted in an immediate reduction in behavioral problems like temper tantrums, as well as in physical symptoms like bed wetting and migraine headaches. It did not impact attentiveness well enough, but supplements are making inroads into that problem now.

There are those for whom supplements and dietary changes do not work. I believe this is because ADHD has so many causes. It takes time and energy and mistakes to figure out an effective treatment protocol. But there are some things that seem to result in improvement for most who try them and stick with them. In general those are dietary changes, Omega-3 supplementation, and increased magnesium intake. There are also many of us who have found remarkable success with the Feingold program, which I highly recommend.

I'd suggest that you read Laura Stevens' book "12 Effective Ways to Help Your ADD/ADHD Child" which is an excellent general overview of alternative treatments that includes specific recommendations. Your library may have it, or you can buy it through Laura's website at users.nlci.com/nutrition/

You will NOT harm your child using supplements, and you will not compromise the effectiveness of any medications you are using. Your chances for success are good. A recent study published in "Alternative Medicine Review" and conducted through Harvard Med School concluded that dietary changes and nutritional supplementation, in combination, were as effective as Ritalin. It's a very informative article, if you want to take a look at it: www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/gant.pdf

[Shananigan]

Thanks so much for your replies. Yes, I have been just about at my wit's end for a while now, and am desperate to find something that will change things for us. My 10 yo did start on the Adderall, and had the best day he's ever had with his schoolwork (we homeschool). He was so excited and you could see that he felt proud of himself. He was even looking into our eyes while speaking to us--something he never does. It is a light at the end of the tunnel for sure, but I do still the idea of the . I'd love to see that sparkle all day, every day rather than for four hours on school days. I want him to be certain that he is that smart on his own--not just because of some brain enhancing .

I will order that book, and I'll try to make heads and tails of the article--it looks a bit technical!! In the mean time, I'm going ahead with an order for the supplements. Which leads me to my next question-- I know I'm supposed to look for high quality supplements, and I'm wondering exactly what makes a supplement high quality. I've found the pharmaceutical grade omega, but what about a multi vitamin/mineral? And the other supplements? I've found tons of alternatives online, but have no idea how to choose based on quality. Only based on what quantity of nutrient they include. Any suggestions?

Thanks again!

[Shananigan]

Okay, so after ordering the book (12 Effective Ways to help your add/adhd child), I see that most my questions in the last post will be answered in the book. It would be nice to know what other people are using, what you like, and if you know of stuff I should avoid.

Thanks!

[catatonic]

Pharmaceutical grade omega-3 is important because of the potential for contamination from pesticides, heavy metals, dioxins, PCB's...all those wonderful pollutants we've dumped into the ocean.

As to the multi-vitamin, there are a couple things that are important to me in selecting one. First, it has to be free of artificial color and artificial flavor. (This isn't important to everyone, but I'm very careful about it.) Second, it needs to contain the necessary trace minerals. Chief among these are zinc (15mg), copper (1 mg), and small amounts of selenium, molybdenum, manganese. Most multi-vitamins will attempt to meet the RDA for the basic vitamins like A and D and the B complex. Ideally, it's nice to find one with enough vitamin E that you won't have to use a separate vitamin E capsule. Minimum is 100 IU, better is 200 IU. If it doesn't contain this much, then add a separate Vitamin E, since it's necessary in order for the Omega-3 to be well-utilized. If in doubt about a product's quality, you are generally safe selecting a national brand name such as Source Naturals, Now, Jarrow, etc.

I strongly suggest adding magnesium in high enough quantity to do some good There is research evidence that as many as 95% of ADHD children may be magnesium deficient, and this definitely has an impact on attention and hyperactivity in addition to general health. There is a very informative website at www.mgwater.com/ with links to research information on magnesium. Laura Stevens discusses magnesium in her book, and there's an excellent book devoted solely to the subject called "The Magnesium Factor" by Seelig and Rosanoff. To calculate an appropriate dose, multiply your child's weight by 6 and use that amount in milligrams. A 71 pound child would need 426mg (and you won't find a 426mg supplement, so go with whatever you find that's closest).

You'll find that magnesium oxide is widely available and very inexpensive. It's also not highly bioavailable. However, it works for many people. It didn't work for us. We've run through most of the common compounds without success and are now using magnesium chloride which is supposed to have a much higher bioavailability. Products like UltraMag by Source Naturals contain a variety of magnesium compounds, increasing your odds that your body will use one (or several) of them. We've found that magnesium citrate (most commonly used in chewables) is extremely hard on the stomach, causing both cramping and diarrhea. It's the only type we've ever had a major problem with.

The article isn't as bad as it looks, especially if you skip to the good parts!!! Take a look at Table 1a (on the 3rd page) and Table 1b (on the 4th page) and you will find a very specific list of the supplements used in the study. Compare the list to the risk factors they list to see which ones might fit your child. For example, do your children typically eat a low-protein/high-carbohydrate diet? That falls under Risk Factor #3, and you can locate the list of supplements given to children with Risk Factor #3. (You may say "yes" to more than one risk factor.)

Hopefully OhMama will chime in here on the quality issue, because she is much more informed about that than I am and is very careful in researching and selecting her supplements.

[foley]

Hi,
Cat has given you great information. I just wanted to chime in and let you know that I practically wrote a book on the supplements we use and why in the thread "Omegas--Looking for Opinions" it's still on the board if you scroll down a little.

As I understand it the quality of the vitamin/mineral supplement can be compromised by the technique used to bind the vitamins together, ultimately less of each viatmin/mineral is absorbed than is indicated on the nutritional info if bound together in a certain way.

We use Pioneer Nutritional 1 + Vitamin and Mineral (vegetarian). And find it to be very complete and effective. There is a chewable form available that is safe for young children. www.pioneernutritionals.com

We also use magnesium glycinate, the feingold program, and Omega Balance by Jarrow Formula's.

The parents on this board are very supportive, and your sure to get comprehensive info here the longer you stick around.
:-)

Best,
Foley

[Kimmers]

Shananigan-

Me and my son are going through right now what I am calling a "restabilizing process," in that he was taking the Omega 3, Magnesium, a multi-vitamin, and for awhile we were giving him DMAE. For the longest time I thought they were working, but not as well as I had hopes for...UNTIL we took him completely off of them. What a nightmare it has been ever since. He was complaining about them and it was turning into a never-ending struggle to get them into him. It was also Chsristmas break so I thought, what the h*ll, I 'll give him a break. I will never, never, EVER try it again until he moves out of the house and out of my clutches. While on my deathbed, I will try and shove one down his throat! LOL

Seriously though, what I thought was just "okay" results, was actually nothing short of miraculous. Sure, we have alot of improvements to make that things like Feingold will (hopefully) take care of. And right now, things are not so hot...I will never make the mistake again of interrupting his supplement schedule, unless it is to add something on a trial basis. It is just a disaster waiting to happen.

I guess to sum up my rambling here, if you are going to try the supplements, go forward with committment. Don't give up after 3 weeks because you haven't seen dramatic results because they are generally not super-fast. It might even become a scenario where the meds. might not be needed. All I can say is that it is alot of hard work, alot of commitment, alot of frustration. And though you will have difficult times, as we are having right now, it is also alot of success, satisfaction, and a boost to the ego that you helped your child in the best way possible. Good luck!

Kimmers

[Shananigan]

I think I've finally come to the point where I would do anything to see our lives improve. I'm pretty sick of it. And I really don't want my kids to grow up feeling stupid like I did. So I have this sense that the next 6 months will be difficult, but worth the effort. And since the kids are frustrated, they are looking forward to it as well.

I placed my order last night. Omega 3, Evening Primrose oil, Magnesium, E, and a multi. Even DH will take them, so it's a family affair. I can't wait to see how much better my own symptoms get!

I'm still not positive that I got all the right stuff in terms of quality, but if I keep waiting until I understand it all, I'll never start. I can always switch brands later if something isn't working.

I'll let you know how it goes!

[catatonic]

Kimmers,
If the DMAE didn't work for you (as it did not for my boy) then the odds are that the tyrosine will help. They work on different neurotransmitters, with tyrosine helping to boost dopamine production. Tyrosine seems to be having a positive impact on my son's attentiveness, where the DMAE had no detectable effect. I started him at 300mg in the morning, and am now giving him 300mg in the morning and again in the evening. Many experts (including the study referenced above, as well as Dr. Amen of the Amen clinic) recommend giving between 300mg and 500mg two or three times daily. It's something you might want to think about trying once you've gotten re-stabilized.

Shananigan, good for you for vitamining (is that a word?) your entire family. I've found that I sleep better and am less scatter-brained since sharing my son's vitamins. I added a B12 tablet to my own vitamins, which has helped a lot to keep me from getting crabby and cranky, especially in the afternoons when I am tired. I hope the vitamins work for you. At the absolute worst, you'll all be healthier!

[Kimmers]

Thanks for the tip, Cat. I am looking forward to trying it. I hope that along with Feingold will be the answers to our prayers. He seems to be getting better-at least the struggle to get him to take his pills has decreased ALOT so hopefully we are on the road again! His eczema is starting to go away again and he is peeing and drinking alot less so I know the Omega's are working again. *Sigh* Back to the waiting game!

Shananigan-
You sound alot like me, maybe I have ADD? I always get really excited about something and then once the excitement wears off it gets set aside and rarely touched or looked at again. However, I really think once you see positive results, you will decide to stick with it. It makes life so much easier that it is hard not to keep doing it! It will also help the kids when they know the whole family is in on it!

Kimmers