membrane surrounding neurons. Its structure keeps the membrane flexible,
allowing messages to travel easily between neurons.
The potential link between improved omega-3 fatty acid status and better
cognitive performance has generated a great deal of excitement. DHA and
EPA, the active forms of omega-3, can only be obtained directly from
oily fish such as mackerel, sardines, salmon and pilchards; these foods
rarely feature in children's diets. So far, no high quality research has
been conducted to examine the effects on learning when supplementing the
diets of healthy children with fish oil. A newly published
randomised-controlled trial provides some evidence.
In the study 175 healthy 4 year olds were randomly assigned to receive
either 400mg of DHA or a placebo daily for four months. None of those
involved in the study were aware of which children were receiving the
active treatment, until the end of the four months. A number of tests of
cognition were carried out at the beginning and at the end of the four
months: Leiter-R Test of Sustained Attention, Peabody Picture Vocabulary
Test, Day-Night Stroop Test, and Conners' Kiddie Continuous Performance
Test.
Initial statistical analysis did not reveal any significant differences
between the two groups. When regression analysis was conducted, however,
a positive association was observed between blood levels of DHA and
scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, a test of listening
comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. Regression analysis is a
statistical tool to ascertain the effect of one variable, such as DHA
levels in blood, on another, such as cognitive performance.
This study is promising preliminary evidence of the efficacy of fish oil
supplementation in improving aspects of cognitive function in some children.
Click here
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18180340?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum>to
view the abstract
From the Nutri Supplement, issue 100
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