Effectiveness of methylphenidate and PUFA for the treatment of patients with ADHD: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial

Journal Title: Electronic Physician - Year 2017, Vol 9, Issue 5

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In some children with ADHD, sub-optimal levels of various nutrients including PUFA especially omega-3 has been observed, and contradictory reports exist on the results of studies conducted on the positive therapeutic effects of PUFA in patients with ADHD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of methylphenidate and PUFA on treatment of patients with ADHD in Zahedan, Iran. METHODS: In this clinical trial, 40 children between 6 and 12 years of age with ADHD were investigated in Zahedan in 2014. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of methylphenidate plus PUFA and methylphenidate plus placebo. ADHD rating scale was filled before and after the study for patients of both groups. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS18, paired-samples t-test and chi-square. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 2.9±1.8 years. Thirty-three children (82.5%) were boys and seven children (17.5%) were girls. Mean severity of signs in the group under methylphenidate plus PUFA treatment was 39.9±4.9 before treatment and 20.1±6.0 after 8 weeks of treatment (p<0.001). Mean severity of signs in the group under methylphenidate plus placebo treatment was 41.2±2.7 before treatment and 26.1±9.0 after 8 weeks of treatment (p<0.001). Mean reduction in the severity of symptoms in the group under methylphenidate therapy was 19.7±5.9 and in PUFA and placebo group it was 15.1±9.3 (p<0.067). Response to treatment (a reduction of at least 25% in the signs) in the group taking methylphenidate plus PUFA was 90% (18 patients) and in methylphenidate plus placebo group, it was 60% (12 patients) (p=0.028). CONCLUSION: This study shows that PUFA is an efficient nutrient to treat ADHD and it can be used to treat patients. However, definitive conclusion requires repeating the study with a larger sample and longer study period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (http://www.irct.ir) with the Irct ID: IRCT2015092724209N2. FUNDING: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article

Authors and Affiliations

Mahbobeh Firouzkouhi Moghaddam, Maryam Shamekhi, Tayebeh Rakhshani

Keywords

Related Articles

Evaluation of the Success Rate of Ultrasound-guided Transjugular Liver Biopsy (TJLB) and the Associated Complications

INTRODUCTION: Transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) is a diagnostic radiological intervention, applied to patients with contraindications to percutaneous or laparoscopic liver biopsy. The aim of this study was to determine th...

Drinking water in traditional Persian medicine: Do’s and don’ts

Water is the main component of our body and its balance is vital for maintaining normal physiology. Accordingly, adequate fluid intake in the daily diet is very important for a healthy life. Nevertheless, there is a cont...

The impact of educational intervention on physical activity, nutrition and laboratory parameters in type II diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases that is now widely spread around the world, and day by day the number of patients is increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of ed...

29 Year Old Man with Multiple Sclerosis and Schizophrenia: A Case Report

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common debilitating neurological disease that affects adults, whether young adults or middle-aged. Although, most attention is toward the neurological signs of the disease, the neurops...

Cavitary pulmonary lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus: an unusual manifestation

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of unknown pathogenesis. The frequency of SLE with cavitary lesion manifestation is very rare and is thought to be due to infection or pulmonary embolism. A 19-...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP321225
  • DOI 10.19082/4412
  • Views 72
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Mahbobeh Firouzkouhi Moghaddam, Maryam Shamekhi, Tayebeh Rakhshani (2017). Effectiveness of methylphenidate and PUFA for the treatment of patients with ADHD: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial. Electronic Physician, 9(5), 4412-4418. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-321225