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Many parents are looking for ways to give their children every
possible opportunity. In school this requires the children to be
attentive and well-behaved. Many parents wish they could achieve
this without a drug like Ritalin, if at all possible. That's why
in addition to a quality, chewable, multiple vitamin/mineral
formula, you may want to make sure that your children receive
additional important nutrients from MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax.
There is mounting clinical evidence that flax offers important
help in supporting healthy behavior and IQ development.
There are 2 types of Essential Fatty Acids (those considered
essential to the human diet). These, Omega-3 and Omega-6
essential fatty acids cannot be synthesized in the body and must
be obtained from the diet. Generally, children receive
adequate amounts of the omega-6 essential fatty acids, but their
diets are woefully lacking in omega-3 essential fatty acids. MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax
is rich in omega-3 fatty acids (2500mg / serving), particularly
the parent compound of all omega-3 essential fatty acids, alpha-linolenic
acid (ALA). The omega-6 essential fatty acids are distributed
evenly throughout the body, but omega-3 essential fatty acids
are concentrated in a few areas including the brain. Learning
specialists now believe omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency
is associated with childhood behavioral problems.
In 1981, researchers
first hypothesized that children with attention deficit/
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have reduced nutritional
status of essential fatty acids because they showed greater
thirst (a symptom of essential fatty acid deficiency) compared
to children without ADHD.
These results were
further confirmed in 1983. When essential fatty acids were
examined in 23 maladjusted children and 20 normal children;
essential fatty acid blood levels in poorly behaved children
were significantly lower.
In 1987, researchers
documented that 48 children with ADHD reported significantly
greater thirst, more frequent urination, and more health and
learning problems than children without ADHD. Significantly
lower levels of two omega-6 essential fatty acids and one
omega-3 essential fatty acid were found in the children with
ADHD symptoms.
In a 1995 study
comparing essential fatty acid levels in 53 boys with ADHD to a
control group of 43 boys without ADHD, researchers found
significantly lower levels of EPA and DHA (two key omega-3
essential fatty acids synthesized from alpha-linolenic acid
contained in flax).
In 1996, Laura J.
Stevens, of the Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue
University, and co-investigators published in Physiology &
Behavior. The researchers found that boys with lower levels of
omega-3 essential fatty acids in their blood showed more
problems with behavior, learning, and health than those with
higher levels of total omega-3 essential fatty acids.
ADHD children also tend
to have more allergies, eczema, asthma, headaches, stomachaches,
ear infections and dry skin than non-ADHD youngsters, note
Donald Rudin, M. D. and Clara Felix. Together, they authored
Omega-3 Oils : A Practical Guide.) Rudin and Felix claim
that behavioral problems, including ADHD, have arisen because
our modern diets are deficient in omega-3 essential fatty acids.
How Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help ADHD Children
All cells throughout the human body are enveloped by membranes
composed chiefly of essential fatty acids in the form of
phospholipids. These phospholipids play a major role in
determining the integrity and fluidity of cell membranes. What
determines the type of phospholipid in the cell membrane is the
type of fat consumed. Unfortunately, our children's' diets, which
are filled with fast foods and prepackaged meals, contain high
amounts of saturated, and trans fatty acids from beef, dairy,
corn and other hydrogenated oils. These interfere with the
optimal balance of phospholipids in cell membranes.
A phospholipid composed of a saturated fat or trans-fatty acid
differs considerably in structure from a phospholipid composed
of an essential fatty acid. In addition, there are differences
between the structure of an omega-3 composed membrane and an
omega-6 composed membrane.
Up to 80 percent of the fatty acids in the cerebral cortex of
the brain should be composed of omega-3 essential fatty acids.
It is thought the cell is programmed to selectively incorporate
the different fatty acids it needs to maintain optimal function.
In actuality, what becomes incorporated into the cell membranes
is determined primarily by diet. The American diet, composed of
largely saturated fat, animal fat, cholesterol, and trans-fat,
causes membranes to become less fluid compared to the membranes
of a child consuming optimal levels of Omega-3 essential fatty
acids.
"A relative deficiency of essential fatty acids in cellular
membranes makes it virtually impossible for the cell membrane to
perform its vital functions," says Dr. Michael Murray. Because
the brain is the richest source of phospholipids in the human
body and accurate nerve cell function is critically dependent on
proper membrane fluidity, it only makes sense that alterations
in membrane fluidity could dramatically impact behavior, mood,
and mental function, he adds.
In addition studies have shown the biophysical properties,
including fluidity of synaptic membranes directly influences
neurotransmitter synthesis, signal transduction, uptake of
serotonin and other neurotransmitters, and neurotransmitter
binding. All of these factors have been implicated in depression
and other psychological disturbances in children.
Scientific Evidence
Two types of fatty acids
are considered essential. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids cannot
be synthesized in the body, and must be obtained from the diet.
The omega-6 essential fatty acids are distributed evenly in most
tissues and easily obtained through food sources commonly found
in the Western diet, but omega-3 essential fatty acids are
concentrated in a few tissues including the brain. Because of
their relative scarceness in the American diet, many children,
perhaps a majority of children today are deficient in omega-3
fatty acids. Learning specialists now believe omega-3 essential
fatty acid deficiency leads to unique symptoms during childhood,
including behavioral problems.
The evidence:
In 1981, researchers first hypothesized that children with ADHD
may have reduced nutritional status of essential fatty acids
because they showed greater thirst (a symptom of essential fatty
acid deficiency) compared to children without ADHD.
These results were further confirmed in 1983. When essential
fatty acids were examined in 23 maladjusted children and 20
normal children, essential fatty acids blood levels in poorly
behaved children were significantly lower.
In 1987, researchers further documented that 48 children with
ADHD reported significantly greater thirst, more frequent
urination, and more health and learning problems than children
without ADHD. Significantly lower levels of two omega-6 fatty
acids and one omega-3 fatty acid (DHA) were found in the
subjects with ADHD symptoms.
In a 1995 study comparing plasma essential fatty acid levels in
53 boys with ADHD to a control group of 43 boys without ADHD,
researchers found significantly lower levels of omega-3 fatty
acids.
In the April-May 1996 issue of Physiology & Behavior 1996, Laura
J. Stevens, of the Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue
University, and co-investigators published an extremely
important paper.13 The researchers found that boys with lower
levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood showed more
problems with behavior, learning, and health than those with
higher levels of total omega-3 fatty acids.
Also, in 1996, researchers from the Department of Psychiatry,
Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey,
reported that levels of free fatty acids as well as zinc were
several-fold lower in ADHD children compared to non-ADHD
children.
Most recently, researchers performed a study to test the effect
of omega-3 essential fatty acids on intelligence scores among 56
18-month-old children. The children were divided into three
groups, one that received DHA, one that received DHA and
alpha-linolenic acid (the master omega-3 essential fatty acid
found in
MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax),
and one that received a formula that did not contain either. All
children were enrolled in the study within five days of birth
and received one of the three formulas for 17 weeks. The
children's overall intelligence and motor skills were tested
using the latest standard for gauging the development of small
children. No differences were seen in the Psychomotor
Development Index. On the Mental Development Index, which
measures memory, ability to solve problems and language
capabilities, the children in the control group received an
average score of 98, slightly below the national average of 100.
The DHA group received an average score of 102.4 and the DHA and
alpha-linolenic acid group received an average score of 105.1.
The children will be tested again in four years to see if the
gains continue into early childhood.
Recommendations
MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax
should not be viewed as a cure for ADHD, but more as one part of
comprehensive nutrition program (including vitamins, minerals,
and enzymes) for physical, mental and emotional health. Even
though not all children are deficient in Omega-3 essential fatty
acids, virtually all can benefit from the nutrition found in MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax. Parents of ADHD children and ADHD adults who wish to utilize
omega-3 essential fatty acids as a method of modifying their
behavior should use both flax and seafood sources of omega-3
fatty acids.
MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax provides alpha-linolenic acid, the
master omega-3 fatty acid from which other omega-3 fatty acids
are synthesized. Seafood provides docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA) which appears to be a vital omega-3 essential fatty acid for
supporting healthy childhood neurological function. The rate of
conversion of ALA to DHA is low. However, alpha-linolenic acid
is important to behavioral improvements as well. Therefore,
a combination of
MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax and seafood is best.
Although DHA is available in some types of seafood such as wild
salmon, mackerel and sardines, many children simply will not
consume those species of fish rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids
in adequate amounts, if at all. Thus,
MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax, which can be inconspicuously incorporated into childrens'
meals, holds many benefits.
MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax may be used in baking (e.g., muffins and
breads), and in smoothies as well as many other
tasty dishes. Children love fruit smoothies and won't
even know that you have added a tablespoon of
MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax.
We recommend the equivalent of one to two tablespoons of
MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax, used either in baked goods,
yogurts, drinks or in other recipes.
See Using
MegaOmega™ Organic Sprouted Flax
for more ideas.
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