Omega 3, Depression & Children (2006)

This study investigated omega 3, depression & children. Antidepressant medication is not recommended for children due to concerns over adverse side effects. In this pilot study of omega-3 fatty acids in children with major depression, 28 children aged between 6 and 12 years old were assessed using the Children’s Depression Rating Scale (CDRS), Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI). Children were given either omega-3 fatty acids or sugar pills (placebo) for up to 16 weeks. Analysis of the results showed highly significant benefits of omega-3 versus placebo, on symptoms measured by the CDRS, CDI, and CGI rating scales.

H Nemets et al ‘Omega-3 Treatment of Childhood Depression: A Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study’. Am J Psychiatry 2006; 163:1098–1100

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Breakfast & Cognition (2006)

This study examined the relationship between consumption of breakfast  & cognition. Subjects included 7,343 10th grade students from Oslo, Norway who completed a questionnaire assessing these variables. The main finding from this study was that eating breakfast regularly is associated with less mental distress and improved academic performance. The association was stronger for boys, than girls.

Lien, L., ‘Is breakfast consumption related to mental distress and academic performance in adolescents?’, Public Health Nutrition, 10(4), 422-428, 2006 July

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Omega 3 & Breast Milk (2001)

This study explored omega 3 & breast milk. The Omega-3 fatty acid DHA found in oily fish has a role in visual development in infants. In a study of 39 breast-fed infants, it was found that the mothers who consumed the most fish had the highest levels of DHA in their breast milk. The babies who were fed on breast milk with the highest levels of DHA had the best visual development. This may have implications for dyslexia, but further research is required to substantiate further.

M H Jørgensen et al., ‘Is there a relation between docosahexaenoic acid concentration in mothers’ milk and visual development in term infants?’, J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.32(3):293-6, 2001

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Omega-3 & Pregnancy (2008)

This study explored omega 3 & pregnancy. Canadian researchers found that higher levels of the omega-3 DHA in the umbilical cord at birth was associated with better vision at 6 months of age and better performance in mental and coordination tests at 11 months in a study of 109 babies. Higher levels of DHA were also associated with a lower rate of pre-term delivery. The same benefits to the baby were not seen from DHA in breast milk, leading the researchers to assert that DHA is particularly important in the 3rd trimester as the brain goes through a ‘growth spurt’. DHA is found in oily fish and seed oils.

J L Jacobson et al. ‘Beneficial effects of a polyunsaturated fatty acid on infant development: evidence from the inuit of arctic Quebec.’ J Pediatr. 2008 Mar;152(3):356-64

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Behaviour, Cognition & Children (2007)

This study explored behaviour, cognition and children. In this preliminary study, researchers investigated the relationship between lead, zinc and iron levels and cognition and behaviour in school children within a lower income population. Forty-two children, aged between 3 and 5 participated in the study. Nutrient status was assessed using blood samples. Behaviour was assessed by teacher’s using the California Preschool Social Competency Scale, Howes’ Sociability subscale, and the Preschool Behaviour Questionnaire and cognition was tested using the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities.

The findings from this study are preliminary and should be interpreted with caution, particularly as the sample size was small. However, associations were seen between low zinc levels and higher anxiety as well as lower verbal scores. High lead levels were associated with lower teacher ratings of sociability and classroom social competence in girls. Children with both low zinc and low iron had the lowers verbal scores, although this result did not reach significance. The study does, however, contribute to the literature showing that levels of essential vitamins and minerals and toxic metals can impact children’s cognition and behaviour.

Hubbs-Tait, L. et al., ‘Zinc, Iron, and Lead: Relations to Head Start Children’s Cognitive Scores and Teachers’ Ratings of Behavior’, Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107(1), 128-133, January 2007

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Folic acid & Children (2010)

This study explored the impact of folic acid on children. Dutch researchers report that the children of mothers who took folic acid supplements during pregnancy were better at internalising and externalising problems, compared to the children of mothers who did not take supplements. The researchers also suggested that supplementation during pregnancy may reduce incidence of mental health conditions in children, although this area requires further research.

Roza, S. J., van Batenburg-Eddes, T., Steegers, E. A., Jaddoe, V. W., Mackenbach, J. P., Hofman, A., Verhulst, F. C., & Tiemeier, H. (2010). Maternal folic acid supplement use in early pregnancy and child behavioural problems: The Generation R Study. The British journal of nutrition, 103(3), 445–452.

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Diet & behaviour (2007)

This study looked at the impact of diet on behaviour. A review of five well-designed studies found that elimination diets reduced hyperactivity-related symptoms. The picture was of children potentially responding to a wide range of food items although the pattern was individual to the child. Supplementation with essential fatty acids decreased violence although there was no evidence of an influence on hyperactivity. Three well-designed studies have reported that vitamin/mineral supplementation reduced anti-social behaviour. There are also findings of an association between a tendency to poor blood sugar balance and aggression. Many responses to diet were idiosyncratic and involved a wide range of foods interacting with individual differences in physiology.

D Benton, ‘The impact of diet on anti-social, violent and criminal behaviour’, Neurosci Biobehav Rev.;31(5):752-74, 2007

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Learning, memory & school children (2007)

This study investigated learning and memory in school children. In two parallel studies (randomised, double-blind), a total of 780 school aged Indonesian and Australian children were given either a combination of vitamins and minerals, a supplement of omega-3 essential fats EPA and DHA, or the vitamins and minerals with the omega-3 fats, or a placebo on 6 days a week for 12 months. At the start of the trial, the children were tested for blood levels of all of these nutrients, all of which significantly improved when they were retested after 12 months. The Australian children on the vitamins and minerals had significant improvement in tests of verbal learning and memory as did the Indonesian girls.

Osendarp SJ et al. ‘Effect of a 12-mo micronutrient intervention on learning and memory in well-nourished and marginally nourished school-aged children: 2 parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled studies in Australia and Indonesia’ Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Oct;86(4):1082-93

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Vitamin C & Cognition (2009)

This study investigated vitamin C & cognition. A new Danish animal study suggests that vitamin C deficiency in the first weeks and months of life may impair the development of neurones in the brain and decrease spatial memory.  Guinea pigs subjected to moderate vitamin C deficiency were found to have 30 per cent fewer hippocampal neurons and poorer spatial memory, compared with guinea pigs given a normal diet.  The Danish researchers used guinea pigs because, like humans, the animals cannot synthesise vitamin C, and can only obtain it via the diet.

“Although a direct extrapolation of this new phenomenon to humans is not currently possible, we found that the relatively high prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in humans, including infants and toddlers, warrants future clinical studies to clarify whether a similar link to brain development exists in humans,  …….. We speculate that the lack of vitamin C supplementation in high-risk individuals, such as pregnant women and newborns with poor vitamin C status, could be detrimental to normal brain development and lead to neurologic disabilities later in life.” wrote the researchers, led by Jens Lykkesfeldt, professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Copenhagen.

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Omegas 3, 6 & DCD (2005)

This study investigated omegas 3, 6 & DCD. DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder) is associated with core deficits in motor function as well as difficulties in learning, behaviour and psychosocial adjustment that persist into adulthood. In a randomised, controlled trial, 117 children with DCD aged 5-12 years were given omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements or placebo for 3 months. At this point all children received the omega-3 and omega-6 supplements for a further 3 months. While there appeared to be no effect on motor skills, there were significant improvements in reading, spelling and behaviour in the children on the essential fat supplements compared with those on placebo and then similar improvements were seen for the placebo group once they started supplementation.

A J Richardson & P Montgomery, ‘The Oxford-Durham study: a randomized, controlled trial of dietary supplementation with fatty acids in children with developmental coordination disorder ‘, Pediatrics, 115(5):1360-6, 2005

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