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Original poster

Any harm giving fish oils to son with possible adhd but no dx?

17 replies

kizzie · 04/11/2004 12:42

Hi - Im thinking of starting my son on SMART fish oils (hes 5 1/2) because of possible ADHD suggested by teacher.
In agreement with the teacher we arent going to seek any formal dx until after christmas to give both of us some more time to look closer at behaviour etc.
Does anyone know of an any possible harm from them - or is it just a case of 'they wont do any harm and might do some good?'
Thanks
Kizziex

OP posts:

onlyjoking9329 · 04/11/2004 20:38

there have been a few posts on fish oils and other folk who are much wiser than i, we use eskimo oils for my son but he has autism and adhd is a different ball game with fish oils i think.

KatieMac · 04/11/2004 20:47

My DH takes fish oil for his joints (they don't do any harm do they? aren't they just more eco friendly than cod liver oil? my Dad was brought up on that)

blossomhill · 04/11/2004 20:52

Hello Kizzie. I have a dd, aged 5, who has language problems but there is a huge queston mark over tha ADHD thing. Some people say yes, others no. We tried dd on EyeQ and it really made dd 100x worse, honestly.
It's just that some of the other mums on here also had negative feedback on EyeQ so thought I'd let you know
There are lots of threads on here about different fish oils that have been really good.

zebra · 04/11/2004 21:04

My kids are NT but I give them fish oils (Eye-Q) because I really think it helps with the 5yo's behavior (gets less tired, more even-tempered, better concentration).

misdee · 04/11/2004 21:15

dd2 has fish oils too (eye-q). she is loads better on them than off them.

mrsforgetful · 04/11/2004 21:34

just to throw the spanner in the works....if you are looking to get a diagnosis...and maybe extra help for him...then one of the dilemas we often share on here is .......

do we start the fish oils and then see such an improvement that no further investigation is needed (which is great...until you stop the treatment...when you believe 'it' has been cured)

or do you NOT start and let the child be seen in their 'true colours' so that their true needs are met?

This is something i am desparately struggling with at the moment...i feel cruel as if he had a headache i wouldn't dream of leaving him to suffer...yet this is exactly what i feel i am doing by delaying trying out alternative therapies.

Chocol8 · 04/11/2004 21:38

Kizzie - would say it is a really good idea to keep an eye on your ds's behaviour over Christmas. It may be a good idea to keep a diary of behaviour/events/tantrums etc, and of the food he has eaten. I did this with my ds when he was 2 and it helped the consultant dismiss any food intolerance induced behaviour.

As the others have said, fish oils are good - I use EyeQ (x4 daily) and as Misdee says, my ds is also better on than off them. There are loads of other threads as Blossomhill says, worth looking into if you have the time as some parents prefer different makes - it's really trial and error but would definitely recommend them and the purer the better.

Good luck with the dx after Christmas.

Hi Misdee! x

Chocol8 · 04/11/2004 21:40

Good point MrsF. X

beccaboo · 04/11/2004 21:44

Kizzie, i've found this a real minefield. I've been looking into it recently, and will tell you what I know, hope it helps - but i'm no expert.

Eye Q seems to help some children, but some can react - maybe to the oils, or maybe to the other things in it? I'm not sure which fish oils are in Eye Q. Eskimo 3 is made from small fish - the theory being that their shorter life cycle gives them less time to accumulate toxins in their flesh. The child version of Esk 3 has some additives I think. The adult version has less additives but tastes fairly awful, couldn't get my ds to take it no matter how I tried to disguise it.

I'm currently giving ds hemp oil. This is supposed to have the perfect balance of omega 3/omega 6 for the human body. However, there seems to be a line of thought that the omega efas in fish oil are different (and more beneficial) than the efas in vegetable sources - it's something to do with long chain/short chain molecules, but afraid I can't remember exactly what at the moment.

I don't know if can do any harm. I know that supposedly the modern diet is lacking in efas, so we could all benefit from extra. Watch out for dosage levels, the recommended dose of 5ml of Eskimo 3 is for adults, you need to give less for children.

mrsforgetful · 04/11/2004 21:45

choc is right...we are as certain as we can be that Tom's ADHD is NOT food related

blossomhill · 04/11/2004 21:46

Beccaboo - where did you hear about hemp oil. I am really interested. Thanks

beccaboo · 04/11/2004 21:48

Hi blossomhill, how are you? I heard from AiA, they recommend it. I can get it at the local health food shop - ideally you need the organic cold pressed version, about £9 a bottle.

blossomhill · 05/11/2004 12:14

Hi Beccaboo - I am okay thanks How about you?
What difference did you notice in ds by using the oil?

Thanks BHx

beccaboo · 05/11/2004 22:17

Hi blossomhill, we're doing ok too thanks. Don't think I can pinpoint any definite changes in behaviour from the oil. The one thing I know has changed is that ds had a little bumpy rash on his upper arms since he was small, we used to think it was where his vests were rubbing on his skin. Some people think it's a sign of EFA deficiency. Since he's been taking the oil it's disappeared.

JaysMum · 05/11/2004 22:56

Just wanted to say that we recently saw a nutritionist and she advised us to stop using Eye-Q for Jay. We had noticed that some of his as traits were getting worse. She explained that Eye-Q contains Virgin Primrose Oil and this can cause problems with behaviour. She recommended just plain old Omega 3 fish oil capsules - twice as many and half the cost!!! We also use hemp oil and have seen some real improvements.

blossomhill · 07/11/2004 16:38

Do you think I should try dd on it. Would it help with the hyperactivity and are there any possible side effects. TIA BHx

Original poster

kizzie · 08/11/2004 10:45

Hi everyone - thanks so much for all your thoughts on this. Sorry I havent checked in sooner - didnt have access to computer for a few days.
Raised loads of things I hadnt even thought of.
It really is difficult to know what to do - going to have a look through all the other fish oil threads and then make a decision. Sounds like you're going through exactly the same thing blossomhill.
Just want to try and make sure that a/ if ds does have a problem that he gets the right help b/ that wherever possible that doesnt include medication and c/ if he doesnt have adhd (or add) try and identify other ways we can help him manage his concentration and behaviour.
Thanks again everyone.
Kizziex

OP posts:

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