Abstract
IntroductionThis study investigated the effects of a marine oil extract (PCSO-524®) on inattention, hyperactivity, mood and cognition in children and adolescents. PCSO-524® is a standardised lipid extract of the New Zealand green-lipped mussel and is an inflammatory modulator that inhibits the 5′-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways and decreases concentrations of the pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid (AA).MethodsPCSO-524® or a matched placebo was administered for 14 weeks to 144 participants (123 males/21 females; mean age 8.7 years) with high hyperactivity and inattention in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The primary outcome was the Conners Parent Rating Scale assessing parental reports of behavioural problems. Secondary outcomes assessed changes in cognition and mood.ResultsThe results of the present study did not support the hypothesis that PCSO-524® improves parental reports of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity in children ages 6 to 14 years over placebo. Repeated measures ANOVA on post hoc subsample analysis indicated significant improvements in hyperactivity (p = 0.04), attention (p = 0.02), learning (p = 0.05) and probability of ADHD (p = 0.04) with a medium to large average effect size (d = 0.65) in those children who did not meet criteria for combined hyperactivity and inattention. Furthermore, significant improvements in the PCSO-524® group were indicated in a whole sample repeated measures ANCOVA on recognition memory between baseline and week 8 over placebo (p = 0.02, d = 0.56); this difference was not sustained at week 14.ConclusionsThe results presented indicate that PCSO-524® may be beneficial in reducing levels of hyperactivity and inattention in a population of children with clinical and subclinical symptoms of ADHD.
Highlights
This study investigated the effects of a marine oil extract (PCSO-524®) on inattention, hyperactivity, mood and cognition in children and adolescents
Significant improvements in the PCSO-524® group were indicated in a whole sample repeated measures Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) on recognition memory between baseline and week 8 over placebo (p = 0.02, d = 0.56); this difference was not sustained at week 14
The results presented indicate that PCSO-524® may be beneficial in reducing levels of hyperactivity and inattention in a population of children with clinical and subclinical symptoms of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Summary
This study investigated the effects of a marine oil extract (PCSO-524®) on inattention, hyperactivity, mood and cognition in children and adolescents. While ADHD is diagnosed by the use of criteria that establish clinical levels of hyperactivity, impulsivity and cognitive dysfunction related to inattention and impulsivity (American Psychiatric Association 2000), subclinical levels of these symptoms may still be sufficient to cause significant personal and social distress (Gadit 2003). Identifying children with subclinical levels of ADHD may aid in the broader understanding of gender differences in terms of symptom expression and severity (Rielly et al 2006) as well as aid in the approach to treatment for those children who are at risk of developing the disorder (Kobor et al 2012). There is difficulty for parents to have a clear understanding of how to approach their child’s behavioural issues and subsequently find appropriate interventions
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