Omega-3 DHA improves children's reading skills and behavior
DHA: Better Behavior and Reading Skills in Children
Children with reading difficulties at school can improve their reading skills and behavior by taking Omega 3 DHA. A study from the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) published in PLoS ONE1 shows that daily intake of Omega-3 improves reading skills and behavior in children who struggle with reading. In particular, the Omega-3 responsible for this important benefit is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), one of the nutrients abundant in fatty fish, fish oil, and algae oil. The children benefiting from its intake are between 7 and 9 years old.
Omega-3 for Healthy Children
Omega-3 fatty acids are important nutrients for the development of the nervous system starting from the womb. Moreover, several studies have shown that after birth these molecules improve the health of children affected by behavioral or cognitive problems. Among these are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The study conducted by Oxford researchers is, however, the first to demonstrate such a marked effect of Omega-3 intake in the school-age population.
Better Reading with the Help of DHA Omega-3 Supplements
To analyze the effect of DHA Omega-3 intake, the authors scheduled the daily administration of 600 mg of DHA, in the form of algae oil, or a placebo without omega-3 to 362 children aged between 7 and 9 years. All participants were in good health and did not suffer from pathological behavioral disorders, but scored below average in reading tests. Omega-3 intake continued for 16 weeks and significantly improved the reading abilities of those children who initially scored the lowest in the general population. In other words, those who read worse than all other children involved in the study. Furthermore, the worse the initial reading ability, the greater the improvement observed.
Better Readers and Better Behavior
Alongside reading improvements, the parents of the children involved in the study also reported improved behavior in their children. The rating scale chosen by researchers to analyze this aspect is the one normally used to detect symptoms of ADHD. Using this method, it was possible to detect, for example, that children who received the DHA supplement were less hyperactive and less defiant than those who did not take Omega-3.
A Simple and Effective Way to Help Children
Based on the results obtained, researchers concluded that DHA intake is a simple and effective way to improve behavior and reading skills in children who do not have health problems but struggle with reading. Since children with this problem risk, later in life, having difficulties both in education and work, the authors have already planned to verify if this approach also helps to solve these issues.
Source
1. 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). PLoS ONE 7(9): e43909. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0043909
