Table 4

Red Blood Cell Fatty Acid Analysis Data

ADHD (n = 11)

Control (n = 12)

Total omega-3 Fatty Acids

5.79 ± 1.39 †

7.42 ± 1.64

Alpha-Linolenic Acid (18:3 n-3)

0.16 ± 0.07

0.13 ± 0.09

Stearidonic Acid (18:4 n-3)

0.07 ± 0.04

0.07 ± 0.04

20:3 n-3

0.02 ± 0.01

0.02 ± 0.01

Eicosatetraenoic Acid (20:4 n-3)

0.05 ± 0.05

0.05 ± 0.04

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (20:5 n-3)

0.51 ± 0.21

0.64 ± 0.24

Docosapentaenoic Acid (22:5 n-3)

1.88 ± 0.71

2.03 ± 0.56

Docosahexaenoic Acid (22:6 n-3)

3.12 ± 0.75 †

4.39 ± 1.34

Total omega-6 Fatty Acids

33.33 ± 1.83

32.51 ± 1.59

Linoleic Acid (18:2 n-6)

13.26 ± 0.95 *

12.02 ± 2.14

Gamma-Linolenic Acid (18:3 n-6)

0.05 ± 0.03

0.06 ± 0.03

Eicosadienoic Acid (20:2 n-6)

0.15 ± 0.07

0.14 ± 0.09

Dihomo-gamma-linolenic Acid (20:3 n-6)

1.69 ± 0.20 *

1.84 ± 0.51

Arachidonic Acid (20:4 n-6)

14.51 ± 1.67

14.73 ± 1.48

Docosadienoic Acid (22:2 n-6)

0.05 ± 0.03

0.04 ± 0.06

Adrenic Acid (22:4 n-6)

3.61 ± 1.33

3.63 ± 0.72

Docosapentanoic Acid (22:5 n-6)

0.03 ± 0.03

0.07 ± 0.01

n-3: n-6 Ratio

0.17 ± 0.04 †

0.23 ± 0.06

n-6: n-3 Ratio

5.86 ± 2.04 *

4.64 ± 1.27

AA/EPA

31.61 ± 8.91

26.04 ± 10.27

Total Saturated Fatty Acids

39.38 ± 1.79

39.26 ± 1.16

Total Monounsaturated Fatty Acids

21.51 ± 1.15

20.81 ± 1.15

Total Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

39.11 ± 2.48

39.93 ± 1.76

Values are means +/- standard deviation and given as a mol % of total fatty acids. † Significant difference between groups (p < 0.02), * Difference between groups (p = 0.095)

Colter et al. Nutrition Journal 2008 7:8   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-7-8