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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Feb;234(3):403-420.
doi: 10.1007/s00213-016-4471-y. Epub 2016 Dec 5.

Reduced inattention and hyperactivity and improved cognition after marine oil extract (PCSO-524®) supplementation in children and adolescents with clinical and subclinical symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

James D Kean  1 , Jerome Sarris  1   2 , Andrew Scholey  1 , Richard Silberstein  1 , Luke A Downey  1 , Con Stough  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Reduced inattention and hyperactivity and improved cognition after marine oil extract (PCSO-524®) supplementation in children and adolescents with clinical and subclinical symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

James D Kean et al. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: This 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).

Methods: PCSO-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.

Results: The 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.

Conclusions: 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 ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; Attention; Children; Cognition; Green-lipped mussel; Hyperactivity; Marine oil; Mood; Omega-3.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of study protocol
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Graphs showing accuracy percentage on picture recognition accuracy, accuracy for correct target picture recognition and accuracy for correct non-target picture recognition
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effects of PCSO-524® (Lyprinol/Omega-XL) on the numeric working memory outcomes. Graphs depict mean COMPASS reaction time scores with SD at baseline, week 8 and week 14 compared to placebo. Significant differences (*p < 0.05) are indicated; Cohen’s d effect sizes are provided
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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