Background: Epilepsy is a frequent neurologic disease in children. Epilepsy is one of humanity's oldest diseases, and it is still the most prevalent neurological disorder afflicting people of all ages. It is estimated that 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy at any given moment.
Objectives: To assess the effect of omega 3 supplementation on seizure control in patients with drug resistant epilepsy, and to compare the effect of the use of low-dose omega 3 versus high dose on seizures control of these patients.
Patients and Methods: The study included 44 patients 26 males (59.1%) and 18 females (40.9%) as one patient dropped off during the study. Their mean age was 6.35±3.59 years, they were followed up at Outpatient Pediatric Neurology Clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University.
Results: The primary finding in the current study was that there was a statistically significant decrease in seizure frequency after low-dose omega 3 (1 capsule/day, 1000 mg of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)). The secondary finding in the current study was that there was a statistically significant decrease in severity of seizures after low-dose fish oil (1 capsule/day, 1000 mg of EPA+DHA). The tertiary finding in the current study is that there was no statistically significant decrease in seizure frequency, duration, and severity after high dose omega 3 (2 capsules/ day, 2000 mg EPA +DHA) compared with before using omega 3 at the beginning of the study.
Conclusion: Low dose fish oil (1 capsule/day, total of 1000 mg EPA+DHA) was associated with a 50% reduction in seizure frequency and reduction rate 4.62% in seizure severity compared with before using omega 3 supplementation in patients of drug resistant epilepsy.