Dosage Of Omega-3 For Epilepsy In Toddlers

More than 300,000 children younger than 15 -- many of whom are toddlers -- suffer from epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. There is no cure for the condition, although some medications and surgical procedures can help control the seizures characteristic of the disease. Additional dietary treatment may be helpful, specifically, supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids. Studies that focused on the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on epilepsy, however, were conducted on adult subjects. It is not known whether omega-3 supplementation is a safe and effective treatment method for epileptic toddlers. Speak to your doctor before giving your child any supplementary form of omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are compounds essential for the proper function of the circulatory and neurological systems. They can only be obtained by eating omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods, including fish like tuna, herring, sardines, mackerel and salmon; seeds such as flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds; walnuts and soybeans. While there are a number of different omega-3 fatty acids, scientific research has linked supplementation of two fatty acids in particular with medical benefits: DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, and EPA, or eicosapentaenoic acid. Oily fish and fish oil pills contain the highest concentration of these fatty acids. According to Mayo Clinic.com, supplementing with EPA and DHA through fish oil may decrease high blood pressure, help control high cholesterol and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Fish oil supplementation may also help prevent cancer and arthritis and enhance brain development and function.

Effect on Epilepsy

In 2002, a study published in the medical journal "Epilepsia" reported that severely epileptic patients experienced fewer and weaker seizures after consuming a spread containing 1.46 g of DHA omega-3 fatty acids and 0.59 g of EPA each day for six months. A later study published in "Epilepsy & Behavior" supported those findings. Researchers determined that epileptic subjects who were supplemented with 0.7 g of DHA and 1 g of EPA daily suffered from 50 percent fewer seizures than subjects in the control group. Both of these studies have led scientists to believe that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may be an effective method for controlling epileptic seizures without drugs. More research, however, is needed as both studies were conducted on small groups of patients, and neither included children.

Omega-3 for Epileptic Children

There is no established safe dosage of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for epileptic children of any age, including toddlers. In fact, the University of Maryland Medical Center warns that parents should not give children younger than 18 any form of omega-3 supplements unless they have been specifically directed to do so by their child's pediatrician. Although Blue Shield of California advises that 3.25 g of omega-3 fatty acids is an appropriate dosage for controlling seizures, they point out that this dosage is for adults and should not be attempted without medical supervision. Lucy Atkins of "The Guardian" recommends that parents should avoid supplementation and instead focus on encouraging their young children to eat at least two servings of omega-3 rich fish weekly.

Considerations

The fish oil supplements that contain high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not checked for safety or purity. In 2006, potentially harmful levels of cancer-causing dioxin compounds were found in a brand of fish oil pills, resulting in a recall of all omega-3 fatty acid products sold by a company called Seven Seas. Additionally, fish oil supplementation can cause side effects such as nausea, heartburn, diarrhea and bloating and should be avoided by anyone with a fish or seafood allergy, diabetes, liver problems, any type of blood disease or mental conditions such as depression or bipolar disorder. Do not attempt to self-treat your toddler's epilepsy with omega-3 fatty acids and do not use the supplements as a substitute for medication prescribed by a doctor.