Some studies show that fish oil benefits the nervous system. Because of these results, many parents wonder whether to give their children this supplement, especially if they have ADHD or some other disorder. This is a difficult question to answer unequivocally because the research is often contradictory. Anyone considering giving this substance to their children should consult a pediatrician.
Juvenile Bipolar Disorder
While, as of August 2011, there are no studies suggesting that fish oil alone is an effective treatment for bipolar disorder, there is research showing that it can be a helpful adjunct to traditional psychiatric medicines. A study published in the August 2009 issue of the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that children with bipolar disorder who received 360 mg per day of eicosapentaenoic acid and 1560 mg of docosohexaenoic acid showed significantly lower levels of both mania and depression. They also showed better overall functioning.
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is characterized by difficulty concentrating, depression, anxiety, anger and restlessness. A review published in a 2010 Dutch journal "Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie" found that some studies showed no benefits of supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Other studies did find positive effects, but those children had not been officially diagnosed with the disorder. There may be a significant improvement in children who were inattentive, but not in those suffering from other forms of this disorder.
Cognitive Abilities
Studies on fish oil supplementation and intelligence have shown contradictory results, perhaps because of the different kinds of oils used. A study published in the January 2003 issue of "Pediatrics" found that children whose mothers received cod liver oil during pregnancy and lactation had children with higher mental processing scores at age 4 than those whose receiving corn oil. A study published in the July 2011 issue of "Lipids" found that maternal fish oil supplementation produced worse outcomes on processing speeds and working memory than did olive oil supplementation.
Eye-Hand Coordination
A study published in the January 2008 issue of the "Archives of Disease in Childhood, Fetal and Neonatal Edition" evaluated the effects of fish oil supplementation during pregnancy on a variety of abilities including eye-hand coordination, growth, development, language ability and behavior when the children were toddlers. Supplementation had significant effects on eye-hand coordination, a measure that correlated with fatty acid levels in blood samples taken from umbilical cords. There were no significant differences on other measures.
References
- "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Reduced Mania and Depression In Juvenile Bipolar Disorder Associated With Long-chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation; E.H. Clayton, et al.; August 2009
- "Tijdschrift voot Psychiatrie"; Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids In the Treatment of Children and Adolescents With ADHD; A. Aben, et al.; 2010
- "Archives of Disease in Childhood, Fetal and Neonatal Edition; Cognitive Assessment of Children At Age 2 1/2 Years After Maternal Fish Oil Supplementation In Pregnancy: A Randomised Controlled Trial; J.A. Dunstan, et al.; January 2008
- "Pediatrics"; Maternal Supplementation With Very-long-chain N-3 Fatty Acids During Pregnancy and Lactation Augments Children's IQ at 4 Years of Age; I.B. Helland, et al.; January 2003
- "Lipids"; Fish Oil Supplementation During Lactation: Effects On Cognition and Behavior At 7 Years of Age; C.L. Cheatham, et al.; July 2011
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