| 摘要: | 注意力缺陷過動症(以下簡稱ADHD)為現今最常見的兒童發展疾患，其病因眾說紛紜，多元不飽和脂肪酸缺失是其中之一的假設。研究證據逐漸顯露ADHD與飲食及生理狀態的omega-3多元不飽和脂肪酸(omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, 以下簡稱omega-3 PUFA)的量過低有關。這種低量的omega-3 PUFA被視為必需脂肪酸缺乏的表現，提供omega-3 PUFA的補充可以改善ADHD兒童的行為症狀，但對於他們認知缺損的療效結果仍不一致。我們徵召21位ADHD兒童及21位健康對照的同齡兒童並施以SNAP-IV評量表、學童飲食頻率量表、必需脂肪酸缺乏調查表、以及三個電腦化的認知測驗來探討omega-3 PUFA在各種病因中的角色。研究結果顯示ADHD兒童的必需脂肪酸缺乏症狀顯著高於對照組(t = 2.37, p = .024)，表示ADHD兒童有較嚴重的必需脂肪酸缺乏。我們也發現ADHD兒童對延宕有異常敏感的反應(延宕反應作業: t = -2.419, p = 0.02)，及時間知覺處理較差(按拍作業 : t = -3.323, p < .00)現象，但沒有發現這些認知功能缺陷與脂肪酸缺乏有關。ADHD兒童有必需脂肪酸缺乏症狀，且與其飲食型態沒有顯著相關，可推測omega-3 PUFA對於兒童的行為控制及大腦發展有其重要的角色。雖然其中的機轉仍未清楚，需要更進一步研究以找出脂肪酸代謝與機轉在ADHD中所扮演的角色。
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common developmental disorder in childhood and characterized by symptom of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The etiology of ADHD is multifactorial, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) deficiency is hypothesised to be one of those multiple factors. Emerging evidence was shown that ADHD may be associated with low omega-3 PUFA levels of diet and physical status, but the correlation was controversial. Lower PUFA status as an essential fatty acid (EFA) deficit has been related to ADHD symptoms. Omega-3 PUFA supplement could be beneficial for treatment of ADHD symptoms, but its effect for cognitive dysfunctions is still inconsistent. We recruited 21 children with ADHD and 21 healthy age-match children to investigate whether the role of omega-3 PUFAs in dietary intake and/or deficit is associated with ADHD symptom and its correlation of cognitive dysfunction in children. One scale about ADHD symptoms, two questionnaires for omega-3 PUFA, and three computerized cognition tasks were applied to all groups. In our study, children with ADHD had higher EFA deficit scores (t = 2.37, p = .024) when compared with normal control groups. ADHD children showed a significant difference in motivational deficit (Delay related time task: t = - 2.419, p = 0.02), and temporal processing (Tapping task : t = - 3.32, p < .00) when compared with control groups; however, there was no correlation observed between cognitive performance to ADHD symptoms and omega-3 PUFA deficit. In conclusion, our study revealed the EFA deficit status in ADHD children could be possible high risk factor with ADHD symptoms suggest the possible role of omega-3 PUFA in controlling the behavior and brain functions. These findings urge future studies to further investigate the metabolic role of omega-3 PUFA in the manifestation of ADHD symptoms. |
