According to a study published in Pediatrics in 2005, fish oil might be a good addition to a child's diet for a number of reasons. This study suggested that learning problems and behavioural problems at schools might be directly related to the amount of essential fatty acids (as found in fish oil) in the child's diet. By studying over a hundred children between the ages of 5 and 12, the study found that children improved their intelligence and behaviour within three months of consistent supplementation. In fact, this study proved to be so persuasive that some schools considered implementing a supplement program as a part of the UK school curriculum.
Why Does a Child Need to Take Supplements?
It would seem that children would be the least likely candidates for starting supplement regimens. With their high levels of health and energy, many parents think that their children are developing normally and that nothing more is needed so long as they are not sick. However, this could not be any further from the truth. Fish oil contains essential fatty aids, which are chemicals the body can not produce on its own. In order to ingest these nutrients, the child would need to eat foods that contain the essential fatty acids. With the introduction of processed foods and fast foods, this is becoming less and less the case. These foods contain little, if any, nutritional value, leading to essential fatty acid deficiencies.
When the Child is Still Growing and Developing
Though supplementation can begin when the child is of school age, this is not the only time when fish oil can be introduced. Pregnant women that take fish oil supplements during their pregnancy will more likely have children that score higher on tests and have more fully developed brains and nervous systems. This development reduces the risk of ADHD and other learning disabilities, while also helping to keep moods balanced and positive for the child. The mum can also help the child with their development by taking in supplements of fish oil when they are breast feeding. These essential fatty acids can also be fortified into a formula for the baby as well.
Adding fish oil and essential fatty acids to the regular diet for the child can aid in further development during the crucial younger years. Because the most growth in the brain and nervous system is happening in childhood, adding these kinds of supplements will allow the body to develop normally and to its fullest potential.
Helping ADHD Issues and Other Learning Disorders
Several studies have shown that using fish oil supplements in children with ADHD, dyslexia and ADD issues is nearly as effective and even more effective in some traditionally used medications ? like Ritalin. Because the supplements help the body with cellular function, it stands to reason that fish oil might be able to help with deficiencies that are leading to problems with attention. In the study published in Pediatrics, children that took the fish oil supplements showed increases in good behaviour, while those that took placebos did not show any improvement. When the children that were given the placebos were then given the fish oil, they began to have fewer problems with ADHD issues.
Boosting Test Scores for Your Child
In addition, the study showed that spelling and reading skills progressed as normal rates for those that were given a placebo for their supplement. But those that took fish oil noticed greater improvements in the same period of time. There were also boosts in the short term memories of those that took the fish oil supplements. With the improved brain function and ability to concentrate, children were able to recall words more easily and retain that information for longer periods of time.
How Much Fish Oil Should a Child Be Given?
Of course, the next question is how much fish oil a child should be given in order to see the kinds of results shown in this particular study. It is advised that children and adults have one portions of 500mg of fish oil perday. This can be given in the supplement form or via fish, nut, and seed sources. When the child is taking in primarily fish based sources of essential fatty acids, the amounts should be carefully monitored.
Conclusion
It is safe to conclude that fish oil is a safe and effective supplement to give to children that are still growing and developing. In those with ADHD or ADD issues, this supplement may be able increase the child's attention and focus, while also improving their intelligence and test scores. It is important to note that fish oil supplements should be free of excessive levels of mercury to prevent any toxicity issues ? especially in the smaller bodies of children.
Adding fatty fishes like mackerel, tuna, herring, kipper, and salmon to the diet a few times a week can help to make your child another star pupil.
EPA is certainly grabbing the attention of health experts worldwide. A recent study by the Institute of Psychiatry in London and published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, reported that ethyl-EPA was an effective intervention for people with bipolar depression. Early in 2006, an Australian study conducted by the University of Adelaide claimed that fish oil was better than Ritalin for ADHD, the fish oil they used was high in EPA. Here in the UK, the Durham Trials continue to report on the positive effect that EPA has on mood, behaviour and learning, and that is just the beginning.
Incredibly, there are also indications that EPA might increase brain size. Scans have revealed regeneration in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for memory, reason and processing information. This direct impact on the brain could be why EPA has demonstrated such a profound effect on mental functioning and on mood.
Numerous other studies have shown that EPA reduces the risk of sudden death in heart attack patients and possibly plays a significant role in reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It lowers bad cholesterol and reduces triglyceride levels; it thins the blood and lessens the risk of atherosclerosis. It can improve skin conditions such as psoriasis, acne and eczema, and helps to alleviate the inflammation and pain associated with arthritis and the list just goes on and on.
The fatty acid connection
Every second of our lives, our bodies are converting essential fatty acids into hormone-like compounds called eicosanoids. These eicosanoids control every physiological function in the body. Depending on what fatty acids are available, for example Omega 3 or Omega 6, the eicosanoids produced can either be anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory, so what we need is a healthy balance between Omega 3 and Omega 6.
But, according to experts, our consumption of Omega 6 has doubled in the last 70 years whereas our intake of Omega 3 has dwindled to just a fraction of what it used to be. This increased ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 just happens to coincide with a dramatic rise in cases of depression, mood disorders, heart disease, arthritis and numerous other inflammatory conditions. This is where EPA comes in. EPA is the most important fatty acid in the Omega 3 chain and here's why. The Omega 3 chain consists of Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA can be found in some plant sources and although the body can covert ALA to EPA this process is highly inefficient and some indications are that it is as low as 5%.
Interestingly, an increased ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids have been found in patients suffering from depression, anxiety and people who are under stress. Experts believe that EPA suppresses production of Arachidonic acid (AA), which is Omega 6. The higher the concentration of Arachidonic acid, we have in our cells, the greater the number of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids we produce and the greater our chances are of becoming ill both physically and mentally.
Consequently, we need a constant and steady supply of EPA as it is used up relatively quickly, unlike DHA, which remains in the body for some time, so there is not the same requirement for DHA as there is for EPA. Although DHA is important for the structure of the brain, it is EPA that appears to be the most important for the day to day functioning of the brain. Even at a basic level, it improves the flow of blood throughout the body and to the brain, promotes greater inter-connectivity between the neural networks and most importantly, it counteracts inflammation, the precursor of all disease.
So how do we get enough EPA?
Both EPA and DHA are found in oily fish and fish oil supplements. The body is able to convert EPA into DHA as required, but only if enough EPA is present. In theory, the body is able to produce EPA from DHA but again, this process is inefficient. So, it is vital that we get enough EPA in the diet either by eating more fish or by supplementing with fish oil. Sadly, as most of the fish in our seas are contaminated, we must rely on fish oil that has had the toxins removed. Ethyl-EPA is fish oil that has been subjected to a process known as trans-esterification to produce a purified and highly concentrated form of EPA.
Conclusion
Although as yet, no one knows exactly how EPA works it nonetheless continues to astonish and excite health professionals and scientists alike. Future studies will no doubt shed more light on this particular Omega 3 fatty acid. In the meantime, there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that EPA fish oil is a safe and beneficial supplement for absolutely everyone.
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