Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid with powerful health benefits for both kids and adults. Its benefits extend to kids before birth and later in life for healthy growth and development. The body cannot produce omega-3 on its own so we must obtain it through our diet. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include fatty fish such as salmon, chia seeds, flax seeds and walnuts.
Types of Omega-3s
There are eleven types of omega-3s. The three most important ones are omega-3 fatty acids, ALA (alpha-linolenic), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
DHA
DHA is the most important omega-3 fatty acid in the body and is a key component of the retina (eyes), brain and sperm cells. Like EPA, it is found in marine oils and microalgae but can also be found in meat, eggs and mother's breastmilk.
EPA
EPA is commonly found in marine oils and microalgae. The body can convert small amounts of it to DHA.
ALA
ALA is found in plant oils such as flax seeds, canola oil, chia seeds, hemp seeds and soybeans. The body uses ALA for energy and can convert it into minimal amounts of the bioactive EPA and DHA.
Omega-3 has a range of health benefits for kids.
Omega-3 Health Benefits
Research shows that omega-3 is an important nutrient for kids and that supplementation should begin with pregnant mothers and continue during their child's formative years. The health benefits include:
Eye Health
EPA and DHA are highly concentrated in the eye's retina. The retina is responsible for visual acuity, where it converts light that passes through the iris and pupil and sends the signals to the brain to process neural images.
Brain Development
DHA is the key omega-3 fatty acid in the brain and accumulates during perinatal cortical expansion. During the pregnancy's third trimester, omega-3s are passed to the fetus to support rapid brain growth. Babies born prematurely show DHA deficiency in their brains compared to babies born at term.
Cognitive Health
Omega-3 is essential for brain growth and development in kids. Children of mothers who consumed enough omega-3 during pregnancy and infants that are fed DHA-fortified formulas have been linked to better eyesight and higher cognitive function scores. A study published in the Pediatrics journal found that women who took omega-3 fatty acids supplementation during pregnancy showed favourable results correlating with their children's mental development in later life.
Learning Development
Omega-3 can also improve reading and cognitive abilities in healthy kids. Researchers studied healthy but underperforming school kids and found that DHA supplementation showed effective results for improving academic capabilities and memory retention.
Manage anti-social traits and behaviour problems
According to a study published in Aggressive Behavior, researchers found that omega-3 supplements may reduce behaviour problems and aggression in kids. The findings suggested that improved child behaviour could benefit the parents through their improved relationship.
Reduce Asthma
Asthma attacks can often be dangerous, especially for young kids. The disease is characterised by loss of breath and wheezing and can affect how often kids can take part in physical activity. Two studies (1, 2) have associated a link between omega-3 intake and lower asthma risk in kids. A study published in the journal Nutrients found that Australians are not consuming their daily recommended intake of Omega-3. The Australian Heart Foundation recommends all Australians to consume 2-3 serves of fish a week which equates to approximately 250-500mg of EPA and DHA.
Unfortunately, most kids do not enjoy the taste of fish. In Australia, many foods are now fortified with omega-3 to help Australians meet their recommended omega-3 intake. For families and children not consuming enough fatty fish per week, Omega-3 supplementation is also available as fish oil, algae oil and hemp oil in most pharmacies and supermarket chains.
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Lipa Pharmaceuticals Private Label Kid's Range contains our Omega 3 Fish Oil 1000mg supplement, which helps to maintain and support eye health.