03/10/2026
A 12-week open-label pilot study evaluated whether omega-3 fatty acids combined with Korean red ginseng could improve symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The study included 40 children aged 6–12 years diagnosed with ADHD. Participants received a daily supplement containing 500 mg of omega-3 fatty acids (294 mg EPA and 206 mg DHA) and 3 mg of Korean red ginseng extract. During the study period, no psychotropic medications were allowed. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) and Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale, along with neuropsychological tests measuring attention, memory, and executive function.
After 12 weeks of supplementation, children showed a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms, with ADHD-RS scores decreasing from 31.12 at baseline to 24.15, and CGI-S scores decreasing from 3.38 to 2.94. Improvements were also observed in several cognitive functions. Tests showed reduced attention errors, improved short-term and delayed memory, and better executive function performance. The supplement combination was well tolerated, with only one participant reporting a temporary headache. The researchers concluded that omega-3 combined with Korean red ginseng may help improve ADHD symptoms and cognitive function, although larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
PMCID: PMC7006981 PMID: 31958908