Fish-oil supplements to be tested on children with behavioural problems

The Independent
London, UK
9 Janaury, 2006


Fish-oil capsules are to be given to children with learning and behavioural problems in a new study starting today to test if the supplement improves their condition.

A group of 38 pupils aged 10 to 16 at the Eaton Hall Special School in Norwich will be given the supplement daily for six months.

Children at the specialist school suffer from a range of conditions such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, dyslexia and Asperger's syndrome.

Omega-3 fish oil - rich in fatty acids that help the brain send messages between cells - has been shown to improve memory, mood and concentration in previous studies.

Sales of cod-liver oil supplements, which are rich in vitamin A, D and omega-3, have soared in the past couple of weeks after an influential report in the US said recently that increased doses of vitamin D could reduce the chances of cancer.
The study by Durham County Council will also test if the fish-oil supplement could reduce the side effects of drugs already taken by some of the children. Drugs such as Ritalin, are used to treat ADD and ADHD but can lead to decreased appetite and insomnia.

Lianne Quantrill, project co-ordinator at Eaton Hall Special School, said: "There is already mounting evidence to suggest that there are benefits of taking omega-3 fish oils, particularly for those with behavioural problems who may already have fatty acid deficiencies. This trial will be a chance to look in detail at the effect on a particular group of children with special needs."

A study last year by Durham County Council found that adding a combination of omega-3 fish oil and omega-6 evening primrose oil improved the behaviour of unruly children.

Experts tracked 65 pupils in three childcare centres who were given the supplements for five months.


http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/he...ticle337422.ece

Fish oil enhances children's speech

The Times
London, UK
8 January, 2006


FISH-OIL supplements can dramatically improve the behaviour of unruly children and help them to develop their speaking abilities, researchers said yesterday.

Durham Council experts tracked 65 youngsters in three childcare centres who took the supplements for five months. The results indicated that 47 per cent of the children started the study with poor behaviour, but only 4 per cent displayed behaviour rated poor at the end.

The researchers also asserted that the supplement — a combination of omega-3 fish oil and omega-6 evening primrose oil — helped children to concentrate and bond with their parents.

Madeleine Portwood, the senior educational psychologist for the Durham authority and the lead researcher, said that the impact on language skills was significant. She said: “Some two-year-olds went from having a vocabulary of 25 single words to being able to use whole sentences. Others were able to sit down and concentrate for the first time in their lives.

“The improvements in behaviour and concentration have facilitated a stronger bond between parent and child. We think that this has been largely responsible for the development of communication skills in these children.”

To acertain language development, the team assessed the children against a control group that did not take the supplement. After five months the children who took the supplement had made the equivalent of nearly nine months’ improvement in speech. The control group improved by about the expected five months.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/articl...1915331,00.html

My readings indicate that the above is true -- except I have not heard about the speech improvements.

If you read the Omega 3 books -- and only believe half of it -- the health benefits are enormous. Luckily, Dr Atkins already had me started.

Hence my kids are taking the Coromega fish oil in small packets. One daughter likes them -- one daughter hates them. I've also tried flavored fish oil and such.

If you couple the fish oil with a low(er) carb diet and a good children's multivitamin -- the results are pretty good. It is an easy advantage when your kids are competing against other kids.

It's about time!!!!

Great research Demi!!!!