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Howard G. Smith, M.D. is a former radio medical editor and talk show host in the Boston Metro area. His "Medical Minute" of health and wellness news and commentary was a regular weekday feature on WBZ-AM, WRKO-AM, and WMRE-AM. His popular two-way talk show, Dr. Howard Smith OnCall, was regularly heard Sunday morning and middays on WBZ.

Dr. Smith has adopted audio and video podcasting as conduits for HEALTH NEWS YOU SHOULD USE. Based on the latest medical, health, and wellness literature these reports provide practical information you can use to keep yourself and your family healthy. Many reports have video versions, and Dr. Smith’s YouTube Channel may be found at: http://bit.ly/2rNw6XQ

Trained at Harvard Medical School and a long-time faculty member at Boston Children’s Hospital, he practiced Pediatric Otolaryngology for 40 years in Boston, Southern California, and in central Connecticut.  He is now based in New York City.

If you have questions or suggestions about this content, please email the doctor at drhowardsmith.reports@gmail.com or leave him a message at 516-778-8864.  His website is: www.drhowardsmith.com.

Please note that the news, views, commentary, and opinions that Dr. Smith provides are for informational purposes only. Any changes that you or members of your family contemplate making to lifestyle, diet, medications, or medical therapy should always be discussed beforehand with personal physicians who have been supervising your care.

Nov 22, 2019

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/YYp0nHFGiSo

 

Omega-3 fatty acid fish oil supplements can significantly improve attention deficit symptoms for children who have deficiencies of this essential contributor to brain development.  This the conclusion of a collaborative British-Chinese double-blind, controlled study of 92 children and adolescents with ADHD.

 

The children given the EPA fatty acid supplements showed improvements in focused attention and hit reaction time.  Not surprisingly, only those subjects with the lowest baseline levels of fatty acids improved.  

 

There is a clinical test for omega-3 fatty acid levels though its not perfect.  If you have a child with ADHD, consult your doctors about the test.  Do be certain though that your child’s diet includes fish, flaxseed, or fish oil supplements. 

 

Chang, J.P., Su, K., Mondelli, V. et al. High-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) improves attention and vigilance in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and low endogenous EPA levels. Transl Psychiatry 9, 303 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41398-019-0633-0

 

https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/eicosapentaenoic-acid-epa

 

https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/omega-fatty-acids-test

 

#ADHD #fishoil #omega3s