Half of Americans never eat fish or eat it only occasionally and one-third eat fish only once a week. This, along with other dietary habits, leaves the vast majority of Americans and their children low on their intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Because of the many health benefits of fish, the Harvard School of Public Health recommends you eat it at least once or twice a week. Fish oil supplements can compensate for the lack of omega-3 fatty acids in your family's diet and can assure that even kids who dislike fish get these important nutrients.
Benefits
Fish oil contains several fatty acids, but EPA and DHA, omega-3 fatty acids, are what impart the greatest health benefits to adults and children. Infant formula that contains DHA might enhance infants' mental development, including sensory-perceptual development, memory learning, and problem-solving, vocalization and math skills. Fish oil might enhance the speech, behavioral and emotional functioning of children with dyslexia and ADHD. Children with developmental coordination disorder showed six months' worth of improvement in reading, spelling and behavior following three months of supplementation with 170 mg of DHA and 558 mg of EPA.
Sources
Fish oil supplements for children come in various forms. Children have trouble swallowing the large fish oil capsules that adults take, so children's fish oil supplements come in flavored oil form, squeeze packets, chews, gummy candy and as part of chewable multivitamins. The fish oil flavor usually is masked by sugar or artificially sweeteners. The dosages in these vitamins vary significantly. Some have very little DHA or EPA per serving, so check package labels to confirm how much DHA and EPA actually is included in the supplement. Make sure the supplement contains both DHA and EPA for your child to get the optimal benefits. Supplements based on fish, fish oil or algae should provide both nutrients.
Dosage
If your child eats fish once or twice a week, she'll be getting sufficient quantities of the essential fatty acids that promote brain development and physical health. The FDA does not provide recommendations for the minimum daily required amounts of essential fatty acids for adults or children. The Food and Nutrition Board provides 2002 guidelines for the adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Infants from 0 to 12 months should have .5 g. per day, children 1 to 3 should have .7 mg, children 4 to 8 should have .9 g. per day and children 9 to 13 should take 1.2 g. Boys from 14 to 18 should have 1.6 g. per day, while 14- to 18-year-old girls should have 1.1 g. per day.
Concerns
There might be concerns regarding mercury in fish or fish oil. If your child obtains mercury from eating two meals a week of fish, choose fish that is lower on the food chain, such as canned light tuna, salmon, catfish, pollock and shrimp. Minimize children's routine consumption of fish that can be higher in mercury, such as swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackerel. These same advisories apply to women who might become pregnant, are pregnant or who are nursing. Speak with your child's pediatrician before starting him on supplements of any form.
Member Comments