Alexandra J. Richardson|Paul Montgomery
The Oxford-Durham Study: A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Dietary Supplementation With Fatty Acids in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder
University of Oxford
background developmental coordination disorder dcd affects 5 schoolaged children addition core deficits motor function condition associated commonly difficulties learning behavior psychosocial adjustment persist adulthood mounting evidence suggests relative lack certain polyunsaturated fatty acids may contribute related neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders dyslexia attentiondeficithyperactivity disorder given current lack effective evidencebased treatment options dcd use fatty acid supplements merits investigation methods randomized controlled trial dietary supplementation 3 6 fatty acids compared placebo conducted 117 children dcd 512 years age treatment 3 months parallel groups followed 1way crossover placebo active treatment additional 3 months results effect treatment motor skills apparent significant improvements active treatment versus placebo found reading spelling behavior 3 months treatment parallel groups crossover similar changes seen placeboactive group whereas children continuing active treatment maintained improved progress conclusions fatty acid supplementation may offer safe efficacious treatment option educational behavioral problems among children dcd additional work needed investigate whether inability detect improvement motor skills reflects measures used assess durability treatment effects behavior academic progress