Teens and School: Behavior Can Improve with Supplements
Teenagers and School: Their Behavior Improves Thanks to Omega-3 Supplements
Vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 EPA and DHA positively influence the school behavior of adolescents. Just 12 weeks of supplementation with specific supplements is enough to improve teenagers’ conduct and reduce antisocial behaviors, which are common during puberty.
These are the results of a clinical study conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) and published in the journal British Journal of Nutrition.
Nutrients and Behavior: An Important Link
Numerous scientific publications suggest that children and adolescents in developed countries perform better in verbal intelligence tests and behavior assessments after consuming supplements containing vitamins, minerals, and omega-3, regardless of age. Deficiencies and imbalances of these nutrients, not only during development but throughout life, can significantly affect brain functions.
Although all nutrients are important, omega-3s are particularly crucial, especially when the brain is still growing, as during puberty. Omega-3s play a central role in the development and functioning of the brain and the entire central nervous system. EPA and especially DHA are involved in numerous neuronal processes, ranging from effects on membrane fluidity to regulation of specific genes. Numerous studies have shown a link during childhood between developmental disorders and an imbalance in the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.
For example, neurocognitive disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism spectrum problems are often associated with omega-3 deficiency. Additionally, various nutritional deficiencies have been implicated in antisocial behaviors during school age.
Behavior Improved in Adolescents After Supplementation
The study examined the relationship between supplementation with vitamins, minerals, and omega-3s and conduct and social behavior in English adolescents. The results showed an association between EPA and DHA levels and behavioral improvement, even when the optimal omega-3 level of 8% — associated with maximum protection against coronary disease (Omega-3 Index) — was not reached. The results revealed that the behavior of students who had received supplements improved, while that of those who took only a placebo worsened. As noted by John Stein, professor of physiology at the University of Oxford, nutritional deficiencies are implicated in antisocial behaviors, so correcting them can improve social behavior, and supplements may have a protective effect by preventing worsening misconduct.
Some Details of the Research
The study enrolled 196 healthy boys and girls aged 13 to 16 who were divided into two groups and underwent two different treatments for 12 weeks. One group received dietary supplements in tablets containing high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, and omega-3s, while the other group took placebo tablets. Blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the treatment to measure changes in nutrient concentrations.
Behavior was assessed based on school disciplinary records and the Conners scale, a tool for evaluating and identifying problematic behaviors in young people. Nutrient levels, initially on average low, significantly improved after 12 weeks in the group that consumed supplements. Moreover, researchers found that when adolescents were divided into two subgroups — those with a high number of violations and those with few antisocial episodes — supplementation seemed to have different effects: rule violations increased among the better-behaved youth, while behavior improved among the more undisciplined group after treatment.
According to recent studies, EPA and DHA should constitute 8% of an individual’s total lipid composition. In the young subjects of this study, this percentage reached only about 4% after supplementation. This suggests that the treatment duration was insufficient, although significant improvements were observed after supplementation.
Supplements Could Protect Against Bad Behavior
According to the study authors, the results highlight that supplementation with vitamins, minerals, and omega-3s may have a protective effect against antisocial behaviors, as measured by the Conners scale. Therefore, if unusual behavior is a manifestation of suboptimal nutrient intake, the study data suggest the need for further research with larger sample sizes and increased nutrient dosages. To stay updated on the latest scientific news about Omega-3s, subscribe to our newsletter.
Source: Jonathan Tammam, David Steinsaltza, D. W. Bestera, Turid Semb-Andenaesa and John F. Stein. “A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial investigating the behavioural effects of vitamin, mineral and n-3 fatty acid supplementation in typically developing adolescent schoolchildren”. Br J Nutr. 2016 Jan 28;115(2):361-73.
