A case series on the potential effect of omega-3-fatty acid supplementation on 24-h heart rate variability and its circadian variation in children with attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder

Reiner Buchhorn; Julian Koenig; Marc N Jarczok; Hanna Eichholz; Christian Willaschek; Julian F Thayer; Michael Kaess

doi:10.1007/s12402-017-0240-y

A case series on the potential effect of omega-3-fatty acid supplementation on 24-h heart rate variability and its circadian variation in children with attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder

Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2018 Jun;10(2):135-139. doi: 10.1007/s12402-017-0240-y. Epub 2017 Oct 3.

Authors

Reiner Buchhorn¹, Julian Koenig², Marc N Jarczok³, Hanna Eichholz⁴, Christian Willaschek⁴, Julian F Thayer⁵, Michael Kaess^{2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Paediatrics, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Caritas Krankenhaus, Uhlandstr. 7, 97980, Bad Mergentheim, Germany. reiner.buchhorn@ckbm.de.
² Section for Translational Psychobiology in Child and Adolescents Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
³ Institute of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
⁴ Department of Paediatrics, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Caritas Krankenhaus, Uhlandstr. 7, 97980, Bad Mergentheim, Germany.
⁵ Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
⁶ Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

PMID: 28975530
DOI: 10.1007/s12402-017-0240-y

Abstract

Attention deficit disorder with and without hyperactivity (ADHD) in children is associated with decreased 24-h heart rate variability (HRV). Previous research has shown that supplementation of omega-3-fatty acid increases HRV. Here, we aimed to investigate whether the supplementation of omega-3-fatty acids would increase 24-h HRV in an uncontrolled case series of children with ADHD. HRV was recorded in 18 children and adolescents (age 13.35 ± 2.8 years) before and after omega-3 supplementation. Preliminary results indicate that omega-3 supplementation in children with AD(H)D may reduce mean heart rate and increase its variability. Future studies would do well to implement randomized, placebo-controlled designs with greater methodological rigor.

Keywords: ADHD; Circadian variation; Heart rate variability; Omega-3; Vagal activity.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diet therapy*
Circadian Rhythm / drug effects*
Dietary Supplements*
Electrocardiography, Ambulatory
Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / pharmacology*
Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / therapeutic use*
Female
Heart Rate / drug effects*
Humans
Male

Substances

Fatty Acids, Omega-3