Fish oils provide important omega-3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA, which are crucial for normal growth and development in children. However, fish may also contain harmful contaminants such as mercury or PCBs. For this reason, fish consumption should be limited to 12 oz. of low-mercury types of fish per week, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consuming high-quality fish oil from supplements can provide children with the essential omega-3s they need, without the harmful contaminants found in certain types of fish.
ISSFAL Recommendations
The ISSFAL is the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the ISSFAL has established a minimum dosage chart for omega-3s DHA and EPA. Based on these guidelines, infants ages 1 to 18 months should consume 32 mg of EPA plus DHA per pound of body weight, and children 1.5 to 15 years old should consume 15 mg of EPA plus DHA per pound of body weight per day. The same guidelines encourage pregnant and breastfeeding women to consume at least 300 mg of DHA per day.
Research Findings
According to Medline Plus, different doses of fish oil supplements have been used in research studies to help with treatment of childhood disorders such as movement disorders, developmental coordination disorder and asthma. Based on these findings, 480 mg of DHA has been used to help improve movement disorders, 558 mg of EPA plus DHA was used to help treat developmental coordination disorder and 17 mg to 26.8 mg per kg of body weight of EPA, plus 7.3 mg to 11.5 mg per kilogram of body weight of DHA has been used to help reduce symptoms of asthma in children.
Common Dosages
Two common chewable children's fish oil supplements include Disney brand omega-3 plus vitamin D-3 gummies and L'il Critters omega-3 gummy fish. These fish oils supplements are marketed for children ages 2 years and older. One serving of Disney brand fish oil gummies provides 100 mg of DHA and 25 mg of EPA, and one serving of L'il Critters brand fish oil gummies provides 32 mg of DHA and 68 mg of ALA, another essential omega-3 fatty acid.
Concerns
Some types of fish oil supplements for children are safer than others. Before giving your child any form of fish oil supplements, first consult with your child's pediatrician. When choosing a fish oil supplement, investigate how the supplement was manufactured and whether it's purified, meaning harmful levels of contaminants like mercury have been removed. According to the American Pregnancy Association, high-quality fish oil supplements should not smell or taste fishy. Some fish oil supplements contain high amounts of other vitamins such as vitamin A or vitamin D. If your child is taking a multivitamin supplement in addition to a fish oil supplement, make sure he is not consuming levels of vitamins above the upper intake levels, which could lead to nutrients toxicities.
Member Comments