Omega-3 fish-oil supplements do not boost children’s memories or reading abilities, new research suggests.
Among under-performing children who are learning to read, taking such supplements every day for 16 weeks does not improve their skills or capabilities to recall information, a study found.
Study author Dr Thees Spreckelsen from the University of Oxford, said: ‘Fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids are widely regarded as beneficial.
‘However, the evidence on benefits for children’s learning and behaviour is clearly not as strong as previously thought.’
Previous research suggests certain types of fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, which may a role in the growth and development of nerve tissue, and could therefore boost intelligence.
The current study may have produced different results than earlier investigations due to its slightly smaller sample size and alternative method of assessing reading abilities.
Omega-3 fish-oil supplements do not boost children’s memories or reading abilities (stock)
‘The effects were not substantial for many’
Lead author Professor Paul Montgomery from the University of Birmingham, said: ‘We are all keen to help kids who are struggling at school and in these times of limited resources, my view is that funds should be spent on more promising interventions.
‘The effects here, while good for a few kids, were not substantial for the many.’
The researchers analysed 376 children from 84 primary schools who were aged between seven and nine years old.
The children were learning to read and in the bottom quarter in terms of their abilities.
Half of the children took a daily omega-3 fish-oil supplement while the remainder took a placebo for 16 weeks.
Their reading abilities were assessed before and after the investigation by their parents and teachers.
The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Contradicts past findings
This comes after research released in December last year suggested children who eat fish just once a week have higher IQs.
Consuming seafood at least once every seven days improves youngsters’ IQ scores by 4.8 points compared to those who never eat it, a study found today.
Frequently eating fish also makes children less likely to wake in the night, be tired during the day and resist going to bed, the research adds.
Study author Professor Adrian Raine from the University of Pennsylvania, said: ‘If fish improves sleep, great.
‘If it also improves cognitive performance – like we’ve seen here – even better. It’s a double hit.’
Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to play a role in the production of the hormone melatonin, which regulates sleep and wakefulness.