Omega-3 fatty acids are among the essential dietary components that are underconsumed in modern industrialized countries. This causes a variety of physical and mental health problems. Clinical studies have shown that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids can positively influence children's behavior and learning ability.
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1. The influence of Omega-3 on mood, learning and behavior
Alexandra Richardson of the University of Oxford (UK) is internationally renowned for her research demonstrating how omega-3 fatty acids can influence behavior, learning, and mood. "In my early research," says Dr. Richardson, "I found that omega-3 fatty acids are critically important for many brain functions .
It was therefore a natural fit for me to investigate whether omega-3 supplementation has a positive effect on behavior, learning, and mood. Especially since most of us consume far too little omega-3 in our diet unless we eat primarily fatty fish.
First, Richardson found that omega-3 supplementation significantly improved attention , concentration , and behavior in children with ADHD , and the children also significantly improved reading . After just three months of omega-3 supplementation, the children could read three times better than the control group .
In a second study, no ADHD children were examined, but rather healthy 7- to 9-year-olds who were below average in their academic performance , such as reading, math, etc. Half of the 362 children were given an omega-3 supplement, and the other half a placebo, with neither the researchers nor the students knowing what they were receiving.
As the study results show, omega-3 supplementation appears to offer "a safe and effective way to improve reading and general behavior in healthy, underachieving students in mainstream schools," the authors say. But what about adults?
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2. Omega-3 also helps adults
There are now a number of studies that demonstrate the benefits of omega-3 supplementation for mental health in adults. The omega-3 fatty acid DHA, in particular, appears to have positive effects on mental performance .
Research is currently underway to determine whether omega-3 also affects age-related memory impairment and other cognitive deficits . Initial results are promising, but nothing definitive can be said yet.
3. Conclusion
In summary, omega-3 supplementation has extremely positive effects on the brain in both children and adults. Does Dr. Richardson take omega-3 supplements herself? "Of course," she says, "like most researchers in this field."
Learn more about Omega 3 supplementation
But that doesn't mean you should forgo a natural, healthy diet. And that should include a balanced and broad range of unprocessed foods: fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and, if possible, regular consumption of fatty fish and other seafood.
4. Source
Richardson AJ, Burton JR, Sewell RP, Spreckelsen TF, Montgomery P (2012) Docosahexaenoic Acid for Reading, Cognition and Behavior in Children Aged 7–9 Years: A Randomized, Controlled Trial (The DOLAB Study). [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22970149]
