Can Omega 3 supplements benefit hyperactive children?

There is a debate raging at the moment about the use of drugs to treat a hyperactive child. It seems from the debate that a diagnosis of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is very quick to be made and drugs are very quick to be prescribed.

We aren’t here today to buy into the debate about describing drugs for hyperactive children, or about the definitions of ADHD or when it should be diagnosed.

What we are here to do is to bring to your attention the results of studies which have shown that increasing a child’s intake of the Omega 3 essential fatty acids, and in particular DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid), the 2 most important of the Omega 3 fatty acids, may well have a role in reducing the incidence of hyperactivity in children, and may well have a role in improving the results that a child with a range of conditions may well experience at school.

There is now ample evidence that the vast majority of us are deficient in our intake of the essential fatty acids known as the Omega 3 fats which are most commonly found fish oil which, in the past, made up a large part of our diet as fish or seafood in general.

Studies have clearly shown that over the last century our intake of the essential fatty acids has gradually declined and that now most of us, including children, are deficient in these important fats.

Research is also finding that increasing our intake of the Omega 3 fats has a wide range of health benefits, and in particular that it can improve our mental function from birth or even before that, right through to old age. DHA makes up a large part of our brain and therefore it would seem to make sense that if our intake of DHA in particular is low our brain may not function as well.

Studies are now showing that a hyperactive child may well benefit from increasing his or her intake of the essential fatty acids. And in particular studies are showing that this increase in intake of the Omega 3 fats may well make a significant positive impact on the ability of the child to perform at school.

In a trial in Durham in the UK this was extensively studied. A group of children were selected on the basis that they were not doing particularly well at school, but not as a result of poor ability. Half the children selected were given Omega 3 supplements in the form of capsules and the other half were given a placebo, and as is the case in the studies none of the children knew which they were getting.

Results showed a significant improvement of the ability of the children receiving the Omega 3 fats to do better at school.

Whilst this does not prove that Omega3 supplements are a treatment for ADHD it certainly suggests that this should be studied further. And it’s not only ADHD, there are a number of other conditions that can be diagnosed in a hyperactive child which may also benefit including dyslexia and dyspraxia.

If you’re interested in reading much more about the study you can do so on the website of the BBC.

There seems to be a growing body of evidence that increasing the intake of Omega 3 essential fats is of benefit to all of us, including children and even the unborn. The health benefits of an increased essential fatty acid intake extend to a much wider range of health conditions than just ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia.

Whilst parents should not necessarily start their children taking Omega 3 supplements purely as a treatment for ADHD it is clear that there are other health benefits as well as this, and that there are a wide range of health reasons for increasing the essential fatty acid intake.

And of course this range of health benefits can be attracted to the parents as well as the children, provided the parents also supplement their diet with high quality Omega3 supplements.

If you have a hyperactive child you should always consult your doctor. However it is now clear that there is a growing recognition that most of us are deficient in Omega 3 fatty acid intake, and that all of us, including a hyperactive child, can benefit from increasing their intake of these fats. Read the rest of this entry

Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease can be very serious

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, along with regular fatty liver disease which is alcohol-related, is one of the most common diseases in America. These 2 combined are the most common form of chronic liver disease and effect about one in 10 people.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects a very significant proportion of our population. As the name suggests this is not caused by excess intake of alcohol, however it is also possible to get fatty liver disease from excessive alcohol consumption.

Those suffering from fatty liver disease have an accumulation of triglyceride fat in the cells of the liver in excess of what is normal. This can be caused by a range of factors including high cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, obesity or rapid weight loss, type 2 diabetes and certain medications, as well as some other factors.

Often those suffering from this disease do not observe any symptoms. Those that do suffer from symptoms may find that they suffer from unexplained loss of weight, unusual fatigue or pain in the abdomen.

Despite the fact that many people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease experience no symptoms it is still a serious disease and can lead to permanent liver damage. And research has also shown that those suffering from NAFLD can have higher mortality rates than the rest of us.

There is now evidence that increasing your intake of the Omega 3 essential fatty acids found in fish may have a role in helping reduce non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. And therefore that supplementing your diet with high quality Omega3 supplements can not only benefit your health in a wide range of other areas but may also be beneficial to that 10 percent of the population suffering from fatty liver disease.

A new study done on rats has found that “Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may have a potential therapeutic role in patients with NAFLD”.

This would make sense, as it is already known that increasing the intake of Omega 3 essential fatty acids, and in particular DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid), the most important of the Omega3 fats, helps lower triglycerides and reduce cholesterol.

There is now ample evidence that the vast bulk of our population is deficient in our dietary intake of fish and therefore is deficient in our intake of the essential Omega 3 fats found in fish oil, and that as a result we are more prone to a range of lifestyle diseases.

And there is now also ample evidence that eating more fish, or supplementing your diet with superior quality Omega3 supplements, will offer a wide range of health benefits.

To find out about many of those other health benefits from Omega 3 supplementation browse our categories on the right.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is just one more condition which may well benefit from increasing our intake of the essential fatty acids known as the Omega3 fats. Read the rest of this entry

Gradually the evidence supporting fish oil supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding is getting stronger and stronger.

There is plenty of evidence that a sufficient intake the important essential fatty acids DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) years essential to good health amongst adults. Browse some of the articles under the categories on the right to find out more about the benefits of fish oil supplementation on various health conditions.

However there is also growing evidence of the importance of an adequate supply of the essential fatty acids to a fetus and growing baby during pregnancy and the first few years of life, (and for the rest of life as well).

Today we specifically want to examine the issue of fish oil supplements during pregnancy and during the first few years. Will a baby, or fetus, benefit from increasing the intake of the Omega 3 essential fatty acids in those important first few months and years of life?

There is now clear evidence of the importance of sufficient levels of the Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the health of a human being almost from conception. Studies have shown improvements in mental development and other important areas of cognitive development where the infant has adequate levels of DHA and EPA.

For instance the University of Adelaide in Australia has demonstrated in a six-year study that high doses of DHA can help the mental development of infants. This study examined infants which were born premature.

It was found that premature babies have low levels of DHA which increased the possibility of impaired mental development.

The amount of DHA supplied to the infants was supplemented, in the case of breastfeeding mothers by giving and fish oil capsules, and in the case of bottle fed infants by using a formula with high levels of DHA added.

Babies, and in particular premature girls, who had a DHA rich diet showed better mental development than those that did not. Refer below for a link to the study.

Science Daily also reported that the reason researchers suspect that premature infants are deficient in DHA is because they will miss out on the DHA supplied to them during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester, where much of the DHA necessary for mental and brain development is acquired.

Canadian researchers also found that supplementing the food of preterm babies with DHA supplements, both in breastmilk and bottled milk, will increase the levels of DHA in preterm infants.

It is now generally considered that breastfed infants have better mental development than those which are bottle fed. Another study reported in science daily has now found that using DHA fortified formula on infants resulted in those infants doing better on a problem-solving test. The reason suspected is that breast milk contains some DHA whereas regular formula does not.

Part of the conclusion of the study was that “our results clearly suggest that feeding infants formula supplemented with high concentrations of DHA provides beneficial effects on cognitive development”.

These studies go further towards confirming a link between increased intake of the essential fatty acids known as the omega 3 fats by a mother during pregnancy and breastfeeding and superior mental development in a fetus and infant.

And that DHA fortified formula may provide better developmental outcomes in infants than regular formula.

And of course the best way for pregnant or nursing mothers to increase their intake of DHA and EPA cost effectively and safely is to take high quality Omega 3 fish oil supplements.

However always remember, if you’re pregnant or nursing mother you should always consult your doctor first.

Like all these things there will be ongoing research for many years to come. Currentlysome medical professionals still advise against Omega 3 supplementation for pregnant or nursing mothers, however the evidence supported of Omega 3 supplementation to these women is becoming stronger and stronger. Read the rest of this entry