Omega 3/6 fatty acids for reading in children: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in 9‐year‐old mainstream schoolchildren in Sweden

Johnson, Mats; Fransson, Gunnar; Östlund, Sven; Areskoug, Björn; Gillberg, Christopher

doi:10.1111/jcpp.12614

Cited by 26 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…These findings indicate that LCPUFA supplementation has far-reaching effects, having additional benefits for learning. A recent 6-month 2-phase randomised trial with 154 children aged 9 and 10 years showed the omega-3/6 fatty acid supplementation improved reading ability in mainstream children and improved cognitive measures in children with attention problems, defined as those with ADHD symptom scores above the median [ 46 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Omega-3/6 Fatty Acids Have a Therapeutic Role in Children and Young People with ADHD?

Derbyshire

2017

Journal of Lipids

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Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a debilitating behavioural disorder affecting daily ability to function, learn, and interact with peers. This publication assesses the role of omega-3/6 fatty acids in the treatment and management of ADHD. Methods A systematic review of 16 randomised controlled trials was undertaken. Trials included a total of 1,514 children and young people with ADHD who were allocated to take an omega-3/6 intervention, or a placebo. Results Of the studies identified, 13 reported favourable benefits on ADHD symptoms including improvements in hyperactivity, impulsivity, attention, visual learning, word reading, and working/short-term memory. Four studies used supplements containing a 9 : 3 : 1 ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid : docosahexaenoic acid : gamma linolenic acid which appeared effective at improving erythrocyte levels. Supplementation with this ratio of fatty acids also showed promise as an adjunctive therapy to traditional medications, lowering the dose and improving the compliance with medications such as methylphenidate. Conclusion ADHD is a frequent and debilitating childhood condition. Given disparaging feelings towards psychostimulant medications, omega-3/6 fatty acids offer great promise as a suitable adjunctive therapy for ADHD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Omega-3/6 Fatty Acids Have a Therapeutic Role in Children and Young People with ADHD?

Derbyshire

2017

Journal of Lipids

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“…Studies have suggested that a higher intake of n-3 PUFA supplements, especially DHA, may improve cognitive functions during the perinatal period and infancy, but not in childhood or adulthood [118,122,127,128]. Recently, Johnson et al [129], however, found that the increased intake of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids (DHA, EPA, and gamma-linolenic acid) for three months had a positive effect on prerequisites of reading and that the effects were particularly strong among those with a poorer attention.…”

Section: Nutrients Cognition and Academic Achievementmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview on the Associations between Health Behaviors and Brain Health in Children and Adolescents with Special Reference to Diet Quality

Naveed

Lakka

Haapala

2020

IJERPH

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Unhealthy diet has been associated with overweight, obesity, increased cardiometabolic risk, and recently, to impaired cognition and academic performance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the associations between health behaviors and cognition and academic achievement in children and adolescents under 18 years of age with a special reference to diet quality. Dietary patterns with a low consumption of fish, fruits, and vegetables, and high in fast food, sausages, and soft drinks have been linked to poor cognition and academic achievement. The studies on the associations between the high intake of saturated fat and red meat and low intake of fiber and high-fiber grain products with cognition are limited. The available evidence and physiological mechanisms suggest that diet may have direct, indirect, and synergistic effects on brain and cognition with physical activity, sedentary behaviors, cardiometabolic health, and sleep, but the associations have been modest. Therefore, integrating a healthy diet, physically active lifestyle, and adequate sleep may provide optimal circumstances for brain development and learning. We conclude that most of the existing literature is contained in cross-sectional studies, which therefore highlights the need for longitudinal and intervention studies on the effects of diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep on cognition and academic performance.

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“…supplementation of FAs had weak if any association with cognitive performance in wellnourished children with no psychological or reading disabilities(12,24,39,40). It is possible that the intake of FAs(25) and the proportion of plasma FAs (41) among children in our study was adequate to support normal development of cognition(6,42).The other reason for no associations of dietary FAs with cognition in the present study may be that dietary FAs have different impacts on various cognitive domains.…”

mentioning

confidence: 53%

“…However, recent dietary (23) and supplementary (24) intervention studies suggest that increased intakes of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs and especially increased intakes of eicospentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are linked to improved cognitive skills in children 8-11 years of age. Nevertheless, there is limited knowledge on the associations of dietary intakes of other FAs than EPA and DHA with cognition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition among children

Naveed

Venäläinen

Eloranta

et al. 2020

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective:To investigate the cross-sectional associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition in mid-childhood.Design:Dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes were assessed using 4-d food records, and cognition was evaluated using the Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) score. The cross-sectional associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition were investigated using linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, body fat percentage, household income, parental education and daily energy intake.Setting:The baseline examinations of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study.Participants:A population-based sample of 487 children (250 boys, 237 girls) aged 6–8 years living in the city of Kuopio, Finland.Results:A higher dietary intake of fructose (standardised regression coefficient, β = 0·24, P < 0·001), total fibre (β = 0·16, P = 0·02) and soluble fibre (β = 0·15, P = 0·02) was associated with a higher RCPM score in boys. Other dietary carbohydrates and fatty acids, including total carbohydrates, glucose, sucrose, starch, insoluble fibre, total fat, SFAs, MUFAs, PUFAs, palmitic acid (C16), stearic acid (C18), linoleic acid (C18:2), α-linoleic acid (C18:3), arachidonic acid (C20:4), EPA (C20:5n-3) and DHA (C22:6n-6), were not associated with the RCPM score in boys. Dietary carbohydrates or fatty acids were not associated with the RCPM score in girls.Conclusions:Higher dietary fructose and fibre intakes were associated with better cognition in boys, but not in girls. Dietary fatty acids were not related to cognition in boys or in girls.

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Omega 3/6 fatty acids for reading in children: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in 9‐year‐old mainstream schoolchildren in Sweden

Abstract: Compared with placebo, 3 months of Omega 3/6 treatment improved reading ability - specifically the clinically relevant 'phonologic decoding time' and 'visual analysis time' - in mainstream schoolchildren. In particular, children with attention problems showed treatment benefits.

Cited by 26 publications

References 25 publications

Do Omega-3/6 Fatty Acids Have a Therapeutic Role in Children and Young People with ADHD?

Do Omega-3/6 Fatty Acids Have a Therapeutic Role in Children and Young People with ADHD?

An Overview on the Associations between Health Behaviors and Brain Health in Children and Adolescents with Special Reference to Diet Quality

Associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition among children

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