Fortunately, there are medication alternatives to successfully treating ADHD children that is supported by research evidence. Children afflicted with this disorder also tend to have more ear infections, asthma, headaches, dry skin, and eczema, compared to other children.
Donald Rudin MD, and Clara Felix, authors of Omega-3 Oils: A Practical Guide (Avery 1996). Both Rudin and Felix believe ADD and the other conditions are due to omega-3 fatty acid deficiency, and are part of a modernization-disease syndrome.
Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency’s link to ADHD has been confirmed by studies in which youngsters with ADHD, when compared with non-ADHD children had much lower blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid. This particular fatty acid is critical for normal brain function, eye function. In particular it plays a key role in the cerebral cortex (the portion of the brain responsible for reasoning and memory).
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 fatty acids are distributed evenly in most tissues and easily obtained through food sources commonly found in the American diet, but omega-3 fatty acids are concentrated in a few tissues including the brain.
Due to their extremely low levels in the contemporary American diet, the majority of children are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency most likely leads to behavioral problems in children, and perhaps adults as well. Adult Depression has been successfully treated with fish oils containing these fatty acids.
Source: http://www.healingwithnutrition.com/newsclips/archive/omega3add.html