Adolescents with Low Omega-3 Levels: Lower School Performance

Adolescents with lower concentrations of omega-3 in their blood show less attention and slower information processing speed compared to those with higher concentrations. Specifically, the Omega-3 Index, a measure of an individual's amount of EPA and DHA, was found to be associated with certain measures of cognitive ability. For every 1% increase in the Omega-3 Index, there was a corresponding increase in scores on specific tests, suggesting an important role of EPA and DHA in school performance.

This was discovered by researchers at the Open University of the Netherlands in a study recently published in the journal Nutrients.

Omega-3 and Cognitive Functions

Besides the well-known beneficial activities on cardiovascular health, blood concentrations of omega-3 seem to be associated with cognitive functions in adults and the elderly, as well as with some disorders in children and adolescents including ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), autism, and dyslexia. During adolescence, the role of omega-3 is particularly important; in this life stage, the development of the prefrontal cortex occurs and continues until after age 20. This brain region plays a fundamental role in the development of cognitive functions associated with academic and school performance. Furthermore, the prefrontal cortex is a region particularly rich in DHA, and higher intake of this omega-3 has been associated with changes in the functional activity of the cortex itself in children aged between 8 and 10 years. Several studies have shown an association between fish consumption, which represents the most important source of omega-3, and cognitive abilities in adolescents and school performance. However, fish is not the only source of omega-3, and there is also great interpersonal variability in the absorption of these fatty acids. Thus, to estimate EPA and DHA levels, a blood analysis is necessary. For this purpose, the Omega-3 Index is used, representing the percentage of EPA and DHA relative to total fatty acids in red blood cell membranes.

Omega-3 Associated with Attention and Information Processing Ability

The main objective of this study, conducted on 266 youths aged between 13 and 15 years, was to investigate the association between the Omega-3 Index and cognitive performance, generally developing during adolescence. Results showed that the Omega-3 Index was significantly associated with processing speed and that for every 1% increase in the Omega-3 Index, there was an increase of 1.23 in the score of a test called LDST, designed specifically to measure this type of cognitive function. Moreover, students with a higher Omega-3 Index made fewer omission errors on a specific test, called D2, used to evaluate inattention and impulsivity, meaning they paid more attention compared to youths with a lower Omega-3 Index.

No association was observed for other types of cognitive measures. As highlighted by Harry Rice of GOED, an association promoting adequate Omega-3 intake, the analyses conducted in this study first demonstrate that the children involved needed to increase EPA and DHA consumption to avoid health risks. The average Omega-3 Index was 3.83, a value that, regardless of cognitive functions, is too low. Remember that the desirable Omega-3 Index value is 8, a measure indicating reduced cardiovascular risk. This result of the Omega-3 Index did not surprise the researchers, since 13.9% of the students involved in the research had declared, via a dietary intake questionnaire, that they never consumed fish, and 77% rarely did so.

Positive Outcomes for School Learning

According to the researchers who conducted the study, demonstrating a positive effect of omega-3 supplementation on concentration and processing speed could improve cognitive function and, possibly, school performance, in an easy and low-cost way.

How Can the Omega-3 Index Be Measured?

Determining your Omega-3 Index is important to reliably know fatty acid levels and detect any deficiency. The index is determined through the Omega-3 Index Test, a blood test that can be performed in laboratories following a rigorous quality management system.

Source: I.S.M. van der Wurff, et al. “Association between Blood Omega-3 Index and Cognition in Typically Developing Dutch Adolescents”. Nutrients, 2016, Volume 8, Number 1,13.