Essential omega-3 fatty acids can improve your child's attention span and ability to learn, as well as reduce aggression, which makes it an often-recommended supplement for children with ADD or ADHD. There are two popular ways you can supplement your child's diet with the omega-3 he may be lacking: flaxseed oil and fish oil. Both are safe when taken in normal doses, and there are few negative side effects of the omega-3 itself; however, depending on the source you choose, there are some side effects you may encounter.
Mercury Poisoning
Fish can have high levels of mercury, so if you're feeding your child fish for its omega-3 oils, pay attention to what kind you're serving. Since children are sensitive to toxins, the FDA advises that they avoid eating fish that are most likely to be contaminated with mercury, such as swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackeral. Instead, they should eat fish and shellfish twice a week that are low in mercury, such as salmon, canned light tuna, catfish, crab or scallops. If choosing a fish-oil supplement instead, make sure it's a pure pharmaceutical-grade oil.
Bowel Movements
If you give your child more than the recommended amount of flaxseed oil, it can work as a laxative and cause diarrhea or gas. On the other hand, children with schleroderma, a systemic sclerosis, can end up constipated instead, so you may wish to avoid using flaxseed oil as an omega-3 supplement.
Efficient Conversion
Flaxseed oil contains the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which comes from vegetable-based sources. ALA is converted by the body into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These forms of omega-3 are used more efficiently by our bodies, and they are the forms already found in fish oil. Children with schizophrenia or diabetes are often unable to convert ALA to EPA or DHA, so flaxseed oil is ineffective for them, but fish oil is a good choice.
Medication Interaction
Flaxseed oil affects the rate of absorption of some oral medications and supplements, which may reduces their efficacy, so don't give it to your child at the same time that she's taking anything else. Omega-3 reduces cholesterol and lowers blood pressure, so if your child is taking medications for those issues, you may need to adjust how it's given. Also, if she takes insulin for diabetes, omega-3 supplements might affect the size of dose she needs.
Allergic Reaction
If your child has allergies to flaxseed or fish, he might react adversely to that supplement. Allergic reactions include itching, swelling, rash, hives, wheezing and difficulty breathing or swallowing. If your child experiences any of these symptoms after taking omega-3, see his doctor right away.
Member Comments