Omega-3 essential fatty acids are necessary for healthy brains, hearts and blood pressure. Although omega-3 supplements for children are widely available, a safe dosage has not yet been established. Ask your doctor whether supplementing with omega-3s is a good option for your child.
Omega-3s
Omega-3 essential fatty acids are crucial to human health, supporting brain function, growth and development. Their anti-inflammatory properties may also help prevent some types of cancer, heart disease and arthritis. There are three types of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. EPA and DHA are found in fatty fish and fish oil, while ALA is obtained from flaxseed and walnuts.
ADHD
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements have been used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, in children, with varying results. A study published in 2000 in the journal "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids" theorizes that children with ADHD may have a fatty acid deficiency. Medline Plus of the U. S. National Library of Medicine reports that a dose of 400 mg of fish oil and 100 mg of evening primrose oil taken 6 times daily seems to help children with ADHD develop cognitive skills. However, more studies need to be conducted. Consult your doctor before using omega-3s to treat ADHD in a child.
Asthma
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that only one well-designed study has shown a relationship between asthma in children and fish oil supplements. Most studies on the subject have been inconclusive. Medline Plus suggests a daily dosage of fish oil containing 17 to 26.8 mg per kg of body weight of EPA and 7.3 to 11.5 mg per kg of DHA for treatment of asthma symptoms in children, but this dose should only be administered under the supervision of a medical doctor.
Omega-3s for Pregnancy and Infants
Omega-3 supplements are safe for most pregnant women. A daily dose of 4 g of fish oil containing 32 percent EPA and 23 percent DHA during pregnancy may help prevent asthma, childhood allergies and the skin condition atopic dermatitis in their children. However, some omega-3 rich fatty fish, such as shark, swordfish, mackerel, tilefish and shellfish, may also contain high levels of mercury, which can be toxic to fetuses and small children. Pregnant women should make sure to choose a high-quality mercury-free fish oil supplement from a reputable manufacturer.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Steven D. Ehrlich; 2009
- Medline Plus; Fish Oil; 2011
- "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids"; The Potential Role of Fatty Acids in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; A. J. Richardson et al.; 2000
- U. S. Food and Drug Administration; What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish; March 2004
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