1. Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation on Self-Regulation in Typically Developing Preschool-Aged Children: Results of the Omega Kid Pilot Study—A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Author
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Lauren A. Roach, Barbara J. Meyer, Marijka Batterham, Ian M. R Wright, Steven J Howard, Stuart J. Johnstone, Inge Van der Wurff, Mitchell K. Byrne, Anthony D. Okely, Alison L Jones, Renate H. M. de Groot, RS-Research Line Conditions for Lifelong Learning (part of ERA program), and Department of Conditions for Lifelong Learning
- Subjects
Male ,SYMPTOMS ,Placebo-controlled study ,CHILDHOOD ,Pilot Projects ,Placebo group ,Placebos ,Typically developing ,Eating ,Child Development ,preschool-aged children ,Outcome Assessment, Health Care ,TX341-641 ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS ,Nutrition and Dietetics ,ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER ,EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS ,HS-Omega-3 Index® ,Eicosapentaenoic acid ,Docosahexaenoic acid ,Child, Preschool ,Female ,BEHAVIOR ,Polyunsaturated fatty acid ,self-regulation ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Placebo ,Article ,n-3 LCPUFAs ,Self-Control ,Double blind ,Double-Blind Method ,Internal medicine ,Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ,medicine ,Humans ,ADHD ,Preschool-aged children ,HS-Omega-3 Index(R) ,Nutrition. Foods and food supply ,business.industry ,DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID ,chemistry ,executive function ,Dietary Supplements ,COGNITION ,business ,Food Science ,OMEGA-3-FATTY-ACIDS - Abstract
Supplementation of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) may enhance self-regulation (SR) and executive functioning (EF) in children of preschool age. The aim of the Omega Kid Study was to investigate the effect of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation on SR and EF in typically developing preschool-aged children. A double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial was undertaken, the intervention was 12 weeks and consisted of 1.6 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day compared to placebo. The HS-Omega-3 Index® was assessed by capillary blood samples at baseline and post-intervention. Seventy-eight children were enrolled and randomised to either the n-3 LCPUFA treatment (n = 39) or placebo (n = 39) group. Post intervention, there was a significant three-fold increase in the HS-Omega-3 Index® in the n-3 LCPUFA group (p <, 0.001). There were no improvements in SR or EF outcome variables for the n-3 LCPUFA group post intervention compared to the placebo group determined by linear mixed models. At baseline, there were significant modest positive Spearman correlations found between the HS-Omega-3 index® and both behavioural self-regulation and cognitive self-regulation (r = 0.287, p = 0.015 and r = 0.242, p = 0.015 respectively). Although no treatment effects were found in typically developing children, further research is required to target children with sub-optimal self-regulation who may benefit most from n-3 LCPUFA supplementation.
- Published
- 2021
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