Like many other children in the years following WW2 I was given a daily dose of cod liver oil mixed with malt. Many people remember it with horror but I really enjoyed it. Years later, when I developed painful joints, I started taking it again, this time without the malt. Over a period of months the joint pains gradually disappeared. I still take cod liver oil but as a preventative medicine not a cure. Now it seems that the benefit of fish oils, including increasing brain power in children, may be far greater than was thought when I was a child.

When I was first given fish oil it was to ward off colds and flu, but its value in treating joint pains was also well recognised. Omega 3, found in fish oils, is a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid. Research has shown that it has the same anti-inflammatory properties as Ibuprofen hence the relieve I found!

In the 1950s research into the diet of the Inuits of Greenland started to show the beneficial effect on the heart of eating fish . This research has continued and shows that several portions of oily fish a week reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Research also shows that taking omega 3 with omega 6, another essential fatty acid found mainly in vegetables, is also important.

It is thought that, for maximum benefit, there is a significance between the ratio of omega 3 and omega 6 eaten, and that it is possible we may be getting too much omega 6 through processed polyunsaturated fats such as margarine and cooking oil. The exact ratio for maximum benefit is still being debated and is beyond the scope of this article.

Now research indicates that omega 3 may improve brain power in young children! The research has been carried out on two groups of young children. In the first group children aged 6-12 years were given a combination of omega 3 fish oil and omega 6 evening primrose oil. After 3 months underperforming children showed a significant improvement in behaviour, including attention levels, hyperactivity and short-term memory. Over a six month period there were improvements, sometimes dramatic, in reading skills. The second group of 8-9 year olds already had a reading age 9 months above average. After 3 months they were 18 months above average.

Research into the benefits of omega 3 and brain power is still in its infancy, but the overall benefit of fish oil is universally recognised.

There are a number of brands offering Omega 3 for children and the recommended daily dose is 400-500mg. If you think that your child could benefit, never give supplements to children without first discussing it with your physician. The article is for information only and the author accepts no liability for any action taken.