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Omega Fatty Acids Important for Learning and Behavior

A study by Stevens, et al, In 1996 found that boys aged six to twelve with low levels of fatty acids had a greater number of behavioral problems, temper tantrums, sleep problems, and learning problem than their peers. Some researchers believe that a fatty acid nutritional deficiency and/or conversion problem may exist among children who have learning disorders such as ADHD and dyslexia.

Omega Fatty Acids Improve ADHD-related symptoms

A recent study by Richardson and Puri, published in Progress in Neuro Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry in 2002, studied children aged 8-12 years old with both specific learning disabilities (mainly dyslexia) and noted significantly lower cognitive and behavioral problems with the EFA supplementation group after 12 weeks. The researchers concluded that EFA supplementation appears to reduce ADHD symptoms in children with dyslexia.

Omega Fatty Acids Help DCD Kids Behave

Researchers at Oxford University noted that children suffering from Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) showed a significant improvement in behavior, reading, and spelling with the first three months of fatty acid supplementation. The researchers feel that significant dietary changes that have taken place over the last 20 years (reduction of “good” fats in the diet) are responsible for the increase of children being diagnosed with this condition.

Omega Fatty Acids Improving Language and Behavior in Children

A 2005 Middlesborough trial has been running at 8 schools through out the 2005 academic year.

Three months into the trial, children who were already functioning well above their average, continue to improve. For example, an 8 year old reading at a 13-year level, was reading at a 17-year level according to Dr. Portwood. Researchers want to see how fatty acid supplementation would work in a more general school population and with a larger group. Certainly the trend is suggesting that children of all ages are achieving their full potential. The research will submit a complete report on the 6-month data to a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Fish Oil Improves Pre-School Learning Skills

A 2005 Durham pre-school study of 65 children aged between 20 months and three years, taking fish oil daily is reporting great benefits in concentration, behavioral and parental bonding during the initial five months of this year long study. Researchers, noting that increasing numbers of children are showing unruly behavior before entering primary schools, want to see how well youngsters would tolerate the oils, and see if there could be benefits at a crucial time of brain development.

Growing Consensus

With fish consumption at historically low levels, the growing consensus is that it is essential to supplement the daily diet to ensure a healthy level of omega-3 fats. What’s more, new evidence is showing up what components of the fish oil are most important.

For several years, researchers believed that the DHA was the most important fatty acid, as it is found in the structure of the brain increasingly, however, evidence points to the EPA, as playing a greater role in brain development and function. “EPA improves blood-flow to the brain, but it also helps to manufacture hormones that boost brain function- and, probably most importantly, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent, boosting the immune system,” says Dr. Alex Richardson.

Green leafy vegetables, along with flaxseed and walnut oil, and fortified eggs, contain small amounts of a simpler omega-3 fat-a vegetarian source of EPA, but an inefficient one. By far, the best source of EPA is oily fish such as mackerel, salmon, pilchards, anchovies, herring, sardines, and tuna-fish that are challenging tastes for many youngsters. Sadly canned tuna is significantly, though not entirely defatted in the canning process. Dr. Richardson recommends always getting enough nutrients from diet as far as possible.

Where supplements are needed, you should choose products clearly marked as marine oil with higher levels of EPA than DHA. All the trials have been conducted using pharmaceutical grade marine oil high in EPA and low in DHA. These levels vary drastically from those normally found in oils such as standard fish oils and cod liver oil.

Dr. Richardson’s Durham Trial was conducted with a marine oil that contained 70% omega-3 fatty and 75mg EPA in each 500mg capsule; the children were required to take six capsules each day. Dr. Richardson’s latest trials were conducted with a marine oil that contained 78% omega-3 fatty acids and 240mg EPA in each 500mg capsule. This reduced children’s requirements from six to only two.

The WINOmega3complex Difference

WIN’s goal was to bring one of the most highly concentrated EPA-rich marine oils to the market, and we have accomplished that goal. WINOmega3complex contains 88% omega-3 ethylesters with a 60% concentration of EPA to support overall brain health. What is also exciting for parents, WINOmega3complex provides the recommended amount of EPA, half a gram, along with 160mg of DHA, in just one capsule.

And although our grandchildren 10 years and older swallow their one capsule with no problem, to make WINOmega3complex ‘kid-friendly’ for our little ones- we cut open the capsule and allow them to drink their omega-3, followed by a treat. Some parents may find they have trouble with this approach, we did not. We simply told them how good the omega-3 was for them, that they needed to take it, and they did.

Finally, it must be emphasized that factors other than highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) should always be considered in the nutritional management of behavioral and learning difficulties. An adequate supply of other essential micronutrients is crucial, and many- such as zinc- are likely to have interactive effects on fatty acid metabolism. So although fatty acid deficiency is cited as the single most important factor, various vitamin and mineral deficiencies should be identified and corrected.

“Dietary changes obviously can’t be expected to benefit every child with one of these labels, and professional as well as parental support and guidance is always crucial. But for some, diet can make a big difference- and our research aims to find out to whom it can help, what with, and why.”
-Dr. Alex Richardson