New study explores how omega-3 influences children’s brain development, mood and behavior

06 May 2024 --- The University of Swansea’s School of Psychology, UK, has received a £81,000 (US$102,000) grant to explore the effects of omega-3 on children’s brain health and growth. According to the researchers, the majority of British children are not currently consuming the recommended levels of the vital fatty acids, leading to “worrying effects” on health and educational performance.

Dr. Hayley Young, researcher at Swansea and a principal investigator of the project, comments: “Dietary omega-3 deficiencies have become the norm in UK children, despite the critical importance of these nutrients for mental as well as physical health and well-being. And we already know that a lack of sufficient omega-3 predicts the behavior, mood and learning difficulties of many different children.”

The study is being independently funded by the Waterloo Foundation and conducted in collaboration with the Food and Behavior (FAB) Research, an Oxford-based charity dedicated to advancing scientific research into the links between nutrition and human behavior.

Dr. Alex Richardson, FAB Partner and Co-Investigator, adds: “FAB Research has a long track record of research in this area — as does Swansea University’s School of Psychology — so we’re delighted to be collaborating on this important new study.”

Wide-reaching implications
The Swansea researchers highlight that most children in the UK are consuming less than half of the recommended intake of omega-3s. The fatty acids naturally found in fish and seafood are essential for the proper brain function and development of children. As the human body cannot reliably produce the nutrient, it needs to be supplied through diet or dietary supplementation.

Researchers say that dietary omega-3 deficiencies have become the norm in UK children, despite the critical importance of these nutrients.To carry out the study, the research team is currently looking for children aged six to 12 years old living in the UK. It is set to be conducted entirely online, and participants will be mailed a three-month supply of easy-to-swallow supplements.

The parents or guardians of the participating children will be asked to complete the questionnaires about their children’s behaviors before and after taking the supplements. They will be asked regarding changes in mood and sleep, among other behaviors.

Richardson states: “We know many parents, teachers and health professionals are struggling to provide the help and support so many children need. We’d love them to get in touch, as we can then give them more information that might be useful to them.”

Young asserts: “Previous trials have shown that increasing omega-3 intakes can benefit at least some children, whether or not their difficulties meet full criteria for conditions like ADHD or autism. This new trial will help us find out which children may actually benefit most and how they might best be identified.”

Omega-3 intake has also been intrinsically linked to brain health maintenance among people in the later stages of their lives. The fatty acids were shown in a study conducted at the Duke-NUS Medical School and the National University of Singapore to reduce the damaging effects of aging on the brain by a special transporter protein critical in regulating brain cells. 

However, as awareness about the positive impact of omega-3s on brain health spreads more widely, so does demand for the supplement. In a recent interview with Nutrition Insight, Aker BioMarine highlighted the growing need for fish oil alternatives to fill the increasing gap in the omega-3 market. 

By Milana Nikolova