ADHD and essential fatty acids

The journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids published an important paper earlier this year that clarifies why there have been conflicting results in earlier studies on the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of ADHD. The authors demonstrated that EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid) were each associated with a different type of response in different areas of the brain. This is a good example of the importance of the functional medicine approach that investigates the details of underlying causes and customizes treatment for the individual. The authors state "These findings indicate that EPA and DHA may be involved in distinct aspects of affect processing in ADHD and have implications for understanding currently inconsistent findings in the literature on EFA supplementation in ADHD and depression." Lapis Light patients already know about the importance of objectively measuring essential fatty acids with the proper blood test for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.