Efalex

General Questions About Dyslexia

What is Efalex and will it help with dyslexia?

DDAI does not recommend or promote the use of any nutritional supplements in connection with treating dyslexia. The below information is presented for general informational use only, based on our research of available information on the internet:

• Efalex is the brand name for a nutritional supplement that contains tuna fish oil, Vitamin E, Evening primrose oil, and Thyme oil. The fish oil is rich in 'essential fatty acids' (EFA's).

• EFA's are in fact an essential nutrient; they are required for visual functioning in the retina of the eye, in the synapses of the brain, in nerve tissues, and in the adrenals for regulating stress.

• You can get EFAs from many foods including wheat germ, soybeans, canola oil, and a variety of fish: salmon, mackerel, trout, sardines, tuna, eel.

• Claims that Efalex will 'cure' dyslexia, ADD, or other learning problems are not credible. In fact most of the companies which sell Efalex do not seem to be making these claims -- rather, these seem to be the result of media hype or rumor. On one web site selling Efalex, I found the following statement, which seems to be accurate:

"The supplement is not a cure; it is a natural help for people who are deficient in long chain fatty acids."

• It is possible for people to be deficient in EFA's due to poor diet or stress. Symptoms of EFA deficiency include eczema, hair loss, and excessive sweating accompanies by thirst. You can get more information about EFAs and learning issues at these sites:

Nutritional Research: Essential Fatty Acids, Lorenzo's Oil and Beyond.

 http://www.explorepub.com/articles/nutrition1.html

Positive Health: Essential Fatty Acids, Diet and Developmental Disorders

 http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Nutrition/taylor52.htm

There does not seem to be any harm in taking Efalex. However, it is unrealistic to expect a nutritional supplement to solve a learning problem. This is a dietary supplement, like taking extra vitamin C, not some sort of wonder drug.