Fish Oil for Kids and Children

What are the health benefits of using fish oil for kids?

Fish oil is rich in the omega 3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, and these essential fatty acids have been shown to have many health benefits for persons of all ages, including positive effects on heart and cardiovascular health, joint health, immune system health, brain health, skin health as well as hair health.

These benefits, of course, also apply to children. But the link between fish oil and children goes further, offering certain specific health benefits for the young ones. And these children fish oil benefits start from pregnancy all the way to young adulthood.

During Pregnancy and Nursing

The benefits of fish oil for kids start from pregnancy and the nursing stage.

Fish oil helps promote proper development of the fetus and helps to prevent growth, developmental and behavioral problems. Indeed, it is widely believed that pregnant women and nursing mothers can improve the health, brain function, intelligence and even happiness of their babies by taking fish oil. Other improvements, such as prevention of allergies, prevention of eczema and better hand-eye coordination have also been attributed to fish oil.

Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., wrote a book titled "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why", in which he states that the amount of omega 3's in a pregnant woman's diet has a part to play in influencing her child's intellect, fine-motor skills (including the ability to manipulate small objects as well as hand-eye coordination), and susceptibility to engaging in antisocial behavior. It is thus quite clear that the benefits of fish oil for kids begin in the womb.

Studies have also revealed a link between higher DHA concentrations in breast milk and better visual acuity in the babies being breast-fed.

DHA in a nursing mother's diet finds its way into breast milk. For this reason, some doctors recommend that women who are breast-feeding consume fish oil supplements. If you plan to do so, it would probably be a good idea to consult your health care practitioner. The same applies for fish oil supplementation during pregnancy.

Infancy

The positive effects of using fish oil for kids then extend to infancy.

DHA is important for the normal development of the eyes and vision in infants. It is also important for the normal and proper development of their brains and nervous systems.

It has been found that babies who were born prematurely and were not breast-fed had a high likelihood of being deficient in DHA. Further, for premature babies, some research has found that supplementation with DHA could help improve brain function.

Childhood

DHA is strongly believed to have a positive impact on childhood intelligence. And using fish oil for kids helps with situations such as hyperactivity, lack of focus and concentration, limited attention span, lack of memory, lack of coordination, impulsiveness, as well as learning issues. Indeed, fish oil helps with concentration, and it also boosts the development of the brain and the nervous system in children.

Using fish oil for kids and children with certain health conditions helps, too. A study found that fish oil helps with developmental coordination disorder, an ailment whereby affected children have reduced physical coordination and issues with behavior and learning.

In addition, using fish oil for kids helps improve the symptoms and conditions of those suffering from attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There is preliminary research information showing that children with ADD have relatively low levels of DHA in their bodies. Further, one 12-week double-blind study found that children with ADHD who took a essential fatty acid supplement (including DHA, EPA, GLA and others) experienced better cognitive function and reduced behavioral problems. In that trial, no adverse effects were observed.

There is evidence that fish oil and evening primrose supplements, when used together, could help reduce ADHD symptoms. It is also said that fish oil could help with dyslexia.

Young Adulthood

One particular study found that fish oil may help to reduce aggressive behavior in young girls. In addition, it has also been found that young adults who consumed DHA were able to better deal with mental stress, showing less signs of aggressive tendencies as compared to those who did not take DHA.

Conclusion

The advantages of using fish oil for kids are numerous and would seem to stretch from the fetal stage to early adulthood and beyond. It may thus be something to give your child the boost he or she needs.

(Fish oil supplements are typically in the form of capsules / pills / tablets.)