Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25181335›Full record

SynthesisClinical psychology review2014

Omega-3 fatty acid and ADHD: blood level analysis and meta-analytic extension of supplementation trials.

Elizabeth Hawkey, Joel T Nigg

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Clinical psychology review, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 80 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
80citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
10.7field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

80 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 153 citations in OpenAlex.

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20 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Elizabeth HawkeyDepartment of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States.
Joel T NiggDepartment of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States. Electronic address: niggj@ohsu.edu.
Oregon Health & Science University · US

Funding

ADHD heterogeneity, mechanisms, and risk profileR37MH059105 · NIMH · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · PI NIGG, JOEL T · 2014 to 2023
$7.0M
Brain trajectories in ADHDR01MH115357 · NIMH · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · PI FAIR, DAMIEN A, NIGG, JOEL T · 2017 to 2021
$3.8M
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL AND FAMILIAL MARKERS FOR CHILD ADHDR01MH059105 · NIMH · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · PI NIGG, JOEL T · 1999 to 2012
$3.3M
NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH059105NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH115357NIMH NIH HHS R37 MH059105
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

unlabelledInterest in the value of omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid supplementation for treatment of ADHD remains high. No prior meta-analysis has examined whether ADHD is associated with alterations in blood lipid levels and meta-analyses of supplementation have reached conflicting conclusions.

methodsWe report two new meta-analyses. Study 1 examined blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids in relation to ADHD. Study 2 examined a larger sample of randomized intervention trials than previously reported.

resultsStudy 1 included 9 studies (n=586) and found lower overall blood levels of n-3 in individuals with ADHD versus controls (g=0.42, 95% CI=0.26-0.59; p<.001). Study 2 included 16 studies (n=1408) and found that n-3 supplementation improved ADHD composite symptoms; using the best available rating and reporter (g=0.26, 95% CI=0.15-0.37; p<.001). Supplementation showed reliable effects on hyperactivity by parent and teacher report, but reliable effects for inattention only by parent report.

conclusionsOmega-3 levels are reduced in children with ADHD. Dietary supplementation appears to create modest improvements in symptoms. There is sufficient evidence to consider omega-3 fatty acids as a possible supplement to established therapies. However it remains unclear whether such intervention should be confined to children with below normal blood levels.

Indexed as

AdolescentAttention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityChildFatty Acids, Omega-3HumansFatty Acids, Omega-3ADHDInterventionMeta-analysisOmega−3Polyunsaturated fatty acidsSupplementation

Identifiers

PMID25181335
PMCPMC4321799
OpenAlexW1986174305

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.