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Health news - fish oils boost children's brains12 May 2005 - written by Bupa's health information team Children's learning and behavioural problems at school may be due to a lack of fish oils in their diets, according to a study published in the 5 May 2005 edition of Pediatrics.1 What did the study show?Researchers saw improvements in reading, spelling and behaviour in children when they were given regular fish oil supplements.1 How was the study carried out?The researchers studied 117 children aged 5 to 12 years old. Most children had developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD).1 Children with DCD have difficulties with their motor co-ordination, making them clumsy or awkward. DCD is also closely related to dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).1 For more information on dyslexia and ADHD, please see the Bupa factsheets: Half of the children were given fish oil supplements for six months. The other half were given placebo pills (substances containing no medication) for the first three months and then fish oil supplements for the final three months. The children, teachers and parents didn't know which treatments the children were taking.1 The children's motor skills, reading and spelling abilities, and behaviour were measured before, during and after the supplements were taken.1 Why were the children given fish oil supplements?The brain needs certain oils, found in oily fish, to work properly. In particular, the brain needs oils called omega-3 essential fatty acids. The fish oil supplements given to the children contained omega-3 essential fatty acids.1 Omega-3 fatty acids cannot be made by your body. Your entire supply of these fatty acids has to come from the foods you eat.1,2 What were the results of the study?In total, 100 children took the full course of supplements. Before treatment, their learning abilities were roughly one year lower than expected for their age.1 During the first three months, the children who took fish oil supplements showed improvements in behaviour and their reading and spelling abilities. Their short-term memories also improved. However, their motor skills did not appear to be affected by the fish oil supplements.1 The children who took the placebo pills made the expected rate of progress in their reading and spelling abilities. But when they switched to the fish oil supplements for the next three months, the researchers saw improvements in their reading and spelling, as well as their behaviour.1 This is thought to be the first study to look at the effect of fish oil supplements in children with DCD. More research will be needed to confirm the findings.1 Why do people's diets lack essential fatty acids?This may be because a typical modern Western diet is high in cereals and low in fish. The majority of fish that is eaten tends to be low in essential fatty acids, such as cod and haddock.4 What are the signs of a lack of essential fatty acids?There are a number of signs that someone might be lacking in essential fatty acids. These include:4
However, these problems may be due to other causes. If you or your children experience any of the above, you should see a doctor to rule out other factors.4 Should I start giving my children fish oil supplements?It should not be necessary to give your child fish oil supplements. Most children can get all the essential fatty acids they need from a varied balanced diet. How can I increase my child's levels of essential fatty acids?Oily fish are the best source of essential fatty acids. These include:3
However, they are also available in:3
How much fish should I eat?You are recommended to eat at least two 140g portions of fish a week. One of these portions should be an oily fish, which contains the essential fatty acids.2,5 But there are safety limits on the amount of oily fish you should be eating. Boys, men and women who aren't going to become pregnant in the future can eat up to four 140g portions of oily fish a week.5 Girls and women who may want to have children in the future should eat no more than two 140g portions of oily fish a week. The advice is the same for breastfeeding women.5 For further information, please see Bupa's health news article: What are the other benefits of eating fish?Fish is a good source of protein and it contains lots of vitamins and minerals. It is low in saturated fat and contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce the risk of heart disease.5,6 Fish with edible bones, such as sardines, pilchards and tinned salmon, also contain calcium phosphorus and fluoride. Calcium is needed for strong teeth and bones, phosphorus is essential for many body functions and fluoride is needed for strong teeth.6 Other vitamins and minerals found in oily fish include vitamin A, which is needed for vision in dim light, as well as for healthy skin, and vitamin D, which is needed for healthy bones. Fish is also a good source of selenium, which helps protect cells from damage.6 Bupa information:Further information:
References
All pages were accessed on 07/05/05.
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