Intake of Omega 3 Supplements for Children

Hi V.,

Here's a link to Dr. Sear's website. http://www.drsearsfamilyapproved.com/
He's got a lot of info on the Omega 3 for kids and you can order through him, too.
Hope that helps.

Be well,
G. B.
www.GilaBrown.com

V.,
I absolutely have to recommend Vemma Next. They have had great success with kids that have ADD and ADHD! A very close friend of mine.. her son has ADHD, they put him on Vemma Next and two months later was showing huge signs of improvement including temper and focus ability! You can get it from www.vemmabuff.com it is simply amazing.
hope this helps!
B. : )

I have a 9 yr old stepdaughter with ADD. When we first had the diagnosis, we also tried the Omega 3 suppliment (it was in little packets like ketchup) and something called Attend. It worked a little bit, but a good diet has to go with that, which can be tough sometimes. Also coping technics for them. We, and the school didnt see enough of a change with that so we ended up on Concerta and its working for us. All you can do is try what you have available. Have you looked into payment assistance for the meds? maybe that is an option if the suppliments dont work. Good Luck

Great stuff Julie! Everyone should be taking it, young kids - adults.

My kids started at 2, they are 4.5 & 7 and still take it daily. I currently take 7.2 grams a day (which is higher than the maintenance dosage) but I'm taking it for some knee pain I had (it's been gone for a while so I should lower my dosage) but I'm also taking it because I'm hypothyroid.

Taken from Dr. Barry Sears seminar, here is the recommended dosage (note: how many they say to take on most bottles is not enough).
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The Importance of Fish Oil
• Reduces inflammation
• More effective than statins (cholesterol lowering drugs)
• How much fish oil
o Maintenance of wellness – 2.5 grams/day
o Treatment/prevention of obesity, diabetes, CHD – 5 grams/day
o Treatment/prevention of cancer, chronic pain – 7.5 grams/day
o Treatment/prevention of neurological disorders – 10 grams/day
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Most of our ailments are caused by inflammation, omega 3's are great for that. Maintance dosage for your son is 2.5 grams a day. If it were my child, I'd start at 5 grams and go up from there not exceeding 7. You don't want to go to high. Side effects? You could get diarrhea (I found switching brands cured this), also most just get the diarrhea while their body adjusts. This doesn't happen to people who just take 1-2grams a day, I've just noticed it can happen at the higher dosage. With my 7.2 grams a day, I have no neg. side effects. I take Henry's brand, it is 21.00 for a bottle of 120. They can be swallowed or chewed. In your sons case and all children, you want to make sure the fish oil you choose has more DHA than EPA. As adults, we need more EPA than DHA - unless an adult is taking it for memory issues/depression than more DHA would be best. Don't expect him to change over night. Get him on fish oil now and give it to him from here on out. You can tweak the dosage depending on how well he eats. The more omega 3's he is getting from food sources, then less fish oil he will need. On top of this supplementation, his diet needs to be clean! Two places you can go for food advice that is known to help with ADHD, ADD, Exzema, asthma, depression, migraines, diabetis, just about everything is www.zonediet.com or www.thepaleodiet.com. I've done both for health reasons, both are doable, both make you feel great - I'm currently doing a combination of the both.

I forgot to mention - too much fish oil can make you smarter (so not a bad side effect), it also thins your blood so if I get just a little cut (maybe from shaving) or recently I bumped my gum with my toothbrush while brushing, I bled more than I normally would. If you or anyone reading this already has blood thinning issues, then you would want to consult your Dr. first.

Sorry to be so long winded!
M.

My son is almost 3 and he takes a non fish omega 3. I'm no health nut..(i just had frozen yogurt for lunch) I do think there are a lot of things parents can do instead of behavioral meds. I have 4 step kids, all of which have been on meds. I think 2 of them actually benefited but the other two didn't really need it. Diet really does have a lot to do with kids behavior. I have a friend who's 4 yr old is an absolute TERROR if he has any dairy product. He gets mean and totally out of control. I thought it sounded stupid until I started spending time with them. It's important to get in the omega 3, the live culture bacteria, the right protein. You can try eliminating sugar (i know!!!) and or wheat. Last but not least SLEEP!! If he isn't getting quality sleep it does make a difference. Keep him on a schedule and if he snores consider removing the adenoids. Studies of kids with ADAH saw an improvement in behavior after removing the adenoids of children who snore. My step daughter had hers out and she's like night and day!!

Lots of great advice. I just wanted to add a word of caution. I have two little boys. One is allergic to fish oil. After a week on it he broke out into a horrible rash all over his body. He takes flax oil now. It's not the fish, but it's still the Omega 3s. My other little boy started getting nose bleeds on the full does of Nordic Naturals Children's DHA. So I cut his dose back to 1/2 the recommended. I think the Omega 3s help, but watch for adverse effects.

What a great idea! :o) I have read many studies that suggest that essential fatty acids do indeed help with if not get rid of ADD and ADHD. My fiancee was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and was only on medication for a short time. He says that the side effects weren't worth the medication. We have been together for over three years now, and his diet has basically become more like mine. He believes that just the diet change worked for him. We basically just eat a lot more rice, grains, veggies and fruits, a little meat, and try to cut out the processed food. We don't buy anything with bleached white flour or artificial food coloring, especially the reds! If I had to choose two things to tell you to get rid of it would be anything with msg and artificial food cloloring. You wouldn't believe the side effects of food additives! Also we do take supplements. Anyway, I definitely think that oils help as well. I make smoothies with Carlson Norwegian Cod Liver oil. It tastes like lemon which I like in the smoothies and it also has vitamins A,D, and E. I would recommend researching other types of oils as well, I have learned that oils are magic for all kinds of things. I would start with Udo Erasmus. I don't know his website, but I am sure that you can google him! Good luck with your son, it is great that you are exploring other avenues, his health in the future will be much better because of it!

I took Omega 3's my entire pregnancy and my kids take it daily. They are 2 and 4. There are many kids formulas. Go to a health food store and ask for assistance in finding the best one. Also, my brother has bi polar disorder and (in addition to his meds) he drinks pure Nordic Naturals fish oil. It comes flavored but it is THE BEST for people with ADHD, mood disorders. Without eating healthy and taking his "oils" he feels the mood swings so much more. If it was my child I would try to go natural before putting him on meds...definately!!
Hope this helps.

Well I am ADHD and tried it ... it did help but not much. What helped was drinking coffee. Not much and very weak. (think more like a tea than real coffee). It gave me caffeine which was kinda like the meds in being a stimulant but without the sugars in sodas which affected me badly. I also learned that it helped to keep my hands busy fro some reason. I got permission to knit in all classes because it brought my grades up 2 letter grade having something in my hands. I no longer need the coffee but do still knit.

I am personally VERY against long term mediating a child and very into short term meds with behavioural therapy in the long term. There are coping mechanisms for things like this, for some kids it can be physical exercise, others it is mental exercise, some it is a mix of the two and I am pretty sure their are more that I don't know about. You can help him figure it out or you get a professional to help him. I know that the professional route might not be really a good idea right now but when times change and you have health insurance again, it might be a good idea.

Hi, we lost are health insurance as well but you can get your children enrolled with Healthy Families. It was a simple process and we have had a very positive experience.

V.,

Omgega 3's are huge for anyone with anything going on in their brain and especially for those on the spectrum (ADD/ ADHD as well).My research and the Amen Clinic that we are working with for my son highly recommend 4,000 mg a day. I would think that even 2,000 mg a day would help. Anyone with depression, eye problems, the elderly would all benefit as well.

Other things that work are diet (huge as well). Remove all dyes is first, go as organic as possible and no processed foods. No MSG or artificial sweetners. And it turns out that a big one for lots of kids is removing all gluten (wheat, barley, rye).

So yes there are lots of things that you can do without the drugs just the teachers don't like it because it is not overnight and doctors don't like it because it's not pharmaceutical.

Pure Gold! My kids both take Omega 3-6-9 by Nordic Naturals. For my son it has calmed him, helped him focus in school, calmed his tics. Our Neuro recommended 2 pills 2x a day and we saw a huge difference at home and at school in a few weeks. We call it brain food in our house. We tried the gummies from Costco and it did no good, in fact made his tics worse. My daughter began taking it at 3 because she wasn't talking yet. A year later and she has fully caught up in her speech.

You can also look into diet to help with the ADHD. MSG has been talked about as something that makes ADHD worse. One mom said that when she removed it from his diet that she saw a huge improvement. Magnesium is another supplement that seems to work. It does for us. This forum of moms will help you with resources and what worked for them. http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?

Best of luck to you,
K.

Hi -- I've copied and pasted an excerpt from a newsletter I get from Dr. Hallowell who practices in MA and MI. I'm in AZ and do not see him for my son, but I find his newsletter to be informative and cutting edge. I think he's written books about ADHD as well. Anyway, my 8 year old son is ADHD and possibly on the autism spectrum. He's been treated with ADHD meds and omega's for a few years with some positive results, nothing to cheer about. I'd recommend the omegas even if they don't fix his ADHD symptoms but getting to the effective dose is difficult because the children's versions of the pills are small doses and expensive and they taste bad. We also eat Smart Balance butter and peanut butter which are rich in omegas and taste fine. Below is the excerpt:
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We also know that omega-3s increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that the medications we use to treat ADD also act to increase. A recent study in Sweden, which followed a group of children ages 8-18 who have ADHD found that taking fish oil each day can reduce ADHD symptoms. These reductions come over time. Within six months there was a reduction in 25% of the children, and by the end of the study a reduction in fully half of those taking fish oil. A small study we did in our own offices, also with children, also indicated significant improvement of ADHD symptoms after taking fish oil.

a safe dosage for children is 2.5 grams a day of an omega-3 supplement like fish oil and 5 grams a day for an adult.
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Good luck! I know the meds break the bank. Very unfair.
jv

V., EDUCATE don't medicate! Please.

I am a retired special needs school teacher. I now work with families of special needs kids out side of the school system to truly help. Schools and the medical industry push to medicate children so they will "fit in the system". I teach parents how to "feed their family" so that the family "fits into life".

Did you know some of the most famous people on the planet are/were ADD/ADHD?
Ansel Adams, photographer; Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone; Hans Christian Anderson, author; Beethoven; Terry Bradshaw, foot ball quarterback; Jim Carrey, Actor; Prince Charles; Cher; Agatha Christie; Salvador Dali, Leonardo da Vinci; Walt Disney; Henry Ford; Magic Johnson, JFK; John D Rockefeller; even Albert Einstein…I could go on…

Can you imagine what may have happened to them if their parents decided to medicate them? Would they be who they are today?

PLEASE EDUCATE, don’t medicate.

Here is what some moms who are working with me are saying:

Kim, Mom of Amber, 6, Garret, 10, & Shelby, 15
“After struggling in school for two years with not being able to focus and regulate his behaviour, my son, Garret, after 8 weeks on Barbilee’s nutritional program, is a new boy. Normally, he would have at least one incident a day and sometimes multiple! His school said I should put him on a popular “doctor recommended medicinal program” to help maintain his focus. I chose food instead. He is able to focus and moderate his own energy so he can get the most out of his studies and relationships at school. We have noticed the change at home also. Our WHOLE FAMILY now has an nutrition shake in the morning as our step toward our optimal health!”

Angela, Mom of Jared age 6 and Nyah, age 2.
My son was heading down a very BAD road in school. He was RARELY focused, always "fidgety," becoming increasingly defiant and displayed a behavior problem. Finally I decided to follow Barbilee’s advice and seriously take a look at his diet. I changed one thing, just ONE THING and in three days here are the results. By Monday his teacher reported an EXCELLENT day with him! Tuesday = AWESOME DAY. Wednesday = amazed look on her face = GREAT DAY!!! By the end of the week, he had had the best week in school he'd ever had! I have known for months that I needed to do something but I didn’t know what. When B. offered us a simple easy breakfast fix, I was in. Since we started with B. school and home has become an awesome experience for him rather than a drudgery.

Omega's are a brilliant addition. But EDUCATE yourself. Not all supplements are created equally.

V., this is what I do, I help families. You can email me if you want more personal help.

B., B.A.;B.Ed.
Family Success Coach
____@____.com

It really depends upon your child and the level of ADHD. My son is off the chart for ADHD, so little things don't help much. Fish Oil is fabulous for all kinds of things, so I highly recommend it. My son took it before we put him on meds, and it helped a little bit, but not enough. Give it a try.
The meds are stimulants, so you might try caffeine. A cup of tea in the morning might help get him thru the morning. My sons meds used to wear off by the end of the day, and I used to sometimes let my son have a soda in the evening if he had something that he needed to concentrate on - LOL ;)
I know the meds are expensive, I sympathize with you.
When you get your insurance back, try other meds. We spent years, literally, trying different meds. we had insomnia, drowsiness, lack of appetite, nausea, weight loss, irritability, etc.. We finally found one that works without the side effects - Concerta.
Google ADHD and diet. You might try dietary changes as well.
And for the school, talk to the principal about putting him on a contract for him medical needs. It will make them work with him more and give him more accommodations. In elementary school, they would give my son longer to take a test, sometimes letting him take the test in the testing lab (quieter, less distractions, etc), give him preferential seating, etc.
Goodluck and bless your family..

There's no question diet and supplements make a huge difference. With our son, if he has any refined sugar, prepare for him to be climbing the walls. Besides Omega's, zinc is often deficient in these children. We've never done medication with our son. I just won't got there except as a very last resort.

What has helped our son the most is doing brain-gym type of therapy (he goes to The Learning Gym in Manhattan Beach - http://www.learninggymusa.com). We've also just started primary reflex integration therapy (http://www.moveplaythrive.com/Un-integrated_Reflexes.html) which is suppose to have the most profound results. Movement is critical to these kids, but particular kinds of movement are more beneficial than others. Look into Masgutova Method and Rhtymic Movement Therapy.

And one more thing... has you son been screened for central auditory processing disorder CAPD? He really should be. CAPD and ADHD look identical, and often are confused. A child can have one or both. Here's a site that tells you more: http://www.capdsupport.org.

HTH,
B.

I second Kymberly's response and also remove anything that has red food coloring/dye in it. Has been linked to hyperactivity... also means anything that is purple as well because it has the red dye in it.

Hi V.,
My nephew's teacher said the same thing about 10 years ago, that he was ADHD. My sister said give me a week. She put him on the swim team and it worked. Some kids just have too much energy and can't focus. I would try more exercise. You might also try cutting out any tv. Whatever works to keep our kids off meds. Good Luck, M.

The Omega-3 is a great idea - I would also look into changing your son's diet. Most of the time it isn't ADHD or ADD, but a diet issue. Particularly food dyes.

Excellent! I am glad that you do not have to expose your beloved to these disasterous meds anymore.

Also look into transdermal magnesium. Let me know if you need to source this. It is easy and inexpensive.

In addition, there is so much you can do. I like to say ADHD means, Attention Directed to a Higher Dimension!

I gave my kids fish oils since they were 3 years old, and I take them too. I do it because I know it is healthy for the body, so I am not looking for a reaction or change, so I can not comment on that. It can never hurt, so if you have heard it benefitting in other ways, I say do it.

Hi V.,
I highly recommend checking out DrSears.com. They have a great website. It is full of information you may need.

V.-
Both of my boys have ADHD. Omega 3 is wonderful. It keeps their brain healthy. It helped with the ADHD, but not over night. My boys are super active. They have both had concussions. The research on Omega 3 is it helps with brain injuries. This can NOT be a bad thing to try. :)

Hi, my daughter is on mess for ADHD and takes suplements. She takes omega 3, grape seed extract, and a calcium chew twice a day. This is in addition to her Meds from the Dr. This was what was recomended by her doctor who believed in trying holistic meds.

You may also want to contact the manufactor of your sons meds. I was able to qulifie for the drug company to pay for my daughter's meds because we had no medical coverage.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me.

J.

Hi,

I take Adderall now, and have dealt with ADD since I was young. Omega-3 supplements are a really great idea for the nutritional benefits, but I am very doubtful that they would help much with his ADHD. I'm so sorry to be the bearer of bad news!! But, it's a brain chemistry issue, and as much as I don't like the idea of taking speed, I do when I really have to concentrate because nothing else works. These questions come up a lot - can I treat my kid's ADHD through diet, cutting out food dyes, etc?? And as great as I think all of that is for nutrition's sake, I just don't think it can treat the chemical imbalances of ADHD.

But, I will say, there's nothing to lose by trying! So I'd encourage you to try and see what happens, there's certainly no downside. And, when you get health insurance again, I'd tell your son's pediatrician that the first med didn't work well - there's many others that can be tried. (Stratera is a non-stimulant, for example).

PS Regarding the caffeine suggestions below - I have to say that did help me a bit before I started on Adderall. I'd take caffeine pills, and my doctor later told me that's common for people with ADHD/ADD to self-medicate. So maybe see if it works? Wouldn't recommend soda because of the sugar or aspartame in it - but there's lots of forms of caffeine :)

Best of luck!

R.