There is a growing body of evidence to prove that omega-3 nutrients deliver a number of health benefits. Many clinical papers have been written on the benefits of omega-3 to support a healthybrain function from infancy to adolescence. Most nutritionists recommend that we eat two fish meals a week, one of which should be oily. Ideally omega-3 should be derived from the diet but as every parent knows, getting a child to eat something they don’t like the taste of is difficult. Supplementation safeguards a child’s intake of these vital nutrients and offers a convenient alternative to children who do not like the taste of oily fish.

What is Omega-3 ?

There are two different families of polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, which are important for everyday health. Neither can be made in the body and must be obtained from the
diet. For this reason they are referred to as Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs).
Omega-3 is made up of two essential nutrients:
• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
While EPA & DHA are important for good health, it is DHA particularly which is thought to be important because it forms a significant part of other key tissues, such as brain grey matter, the
retina and the nerves. It can form from 25% to as much as 40% of the brain.

Diet

The human diet should supply about the same level of omega-3 and omega-6 for optimum health. However over the last 50-100 years changes in western diets has resulted in a dramatic rise in omega-6 and a massive fall in omega-3. In fact, we now eat on average about 10 times more omega-6, which can be found in our everyday foods such as vegetable oils and margarine, than omega-3.

The body uses the same enzymes to metabolise omega-3 and omega-6 and therefore when the levels of omega-6 to omega-3 are 10:1, very little omega-3 is processed. Most children seem to be at risk of an imbalance and clearly we need to move towards a better balance. To do so, we need to not only increase our omega-3 intake but also reduce our intake of omega-6.

DHA & EPA are the two essential nutrients found in Omega-3.
DHA is the most prominent essential nutrient found in the brain.

Sourcs of Omega-3

Omega-3 is found almost exclusively in oily fish. Some omega-3 nutrients can be found in flaxseed oil, walnuts and dark green vegetables. However, fish source omega-3 is deemed to be more effective as it can be used more readily by the body. Sources of omega-3 vary widely in the levels they contain. Many of our everyday foods such as bread and milk are fortified with health-enriching omega-3, yet in reality these products often contain tiny quantities of the vital omega-3 needed. The most effective form of omega-3 is found in oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines. Although nutritionists recommend that we eat at least two portions of fish per week, one of which should be oily fish. A survey by the Food Safety Promotion Board discovered that one third of Irish adults do not eat any fish. It can be particularly difficult for parents to get their children to eat the recommended amount of fish.

Our intake of Omega-6 needs to be reduced and Omega 3 increased. Oily fish is a rich source of Omega-3.

The importante of Omega-3

Pregnancy & Infancy
Omega-3 fatty acids are particularly important for the development of the foetus during pregnancy. The formation of the brain, eyes and nerves in the foetus all require substantial amounts of DHA.

• Evidence during pregnancy
Numerous studies have shown it can be beneficial to increase omega-3 supply during pregnancy by eating oily fish or taking a fish oil supplement. Benefits include:




• Evidence during the first year of life
Research in infants has already shown that from the very first day of life our brain requires certain vitamins and nutrients, such as omega-3, to develop to its maximum potential. On a daily basis, optimum nutrition is vital for the 100 billion active brain cells to function effectively whether it is for hearing, seeing, smelling, talking, walking, learning or concentrating. Infancy is a period of rapid growth and 75% of brain development occurs in the first years of life. The omega-3 essential fatty acid DHA is an important building block of the brain. Benefits include:



School Years
Every parent knows that children growing up today need all the help they can get. Children's nutritional intake may be related to their mental performance and concentration levels. That's because when we learn something new, our brain cells send messages to one another. But to do this efficiently the cells need proper nourishment and that's why food is a powerful tool for maintaining brainpower. Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids result in significant improvements in spelling, reading and behaviour of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders. There is also convincing evidence linking the consumption of omega-3 with behaviour and concentration in children.

Adolescent Years
The teenage years are a very important period of a child’s life but can be stressful due to exam pressure and puberty. Several studies have shown that supplementing teenage diets with omega-3 may have an effect on mental stress and aggression in young people. A study on students given a DHA supplement of 200mg per day for three months showed significantly less aggression towards others when under stress, compared with placebo. (Ref: Hamazaki, et al. J Clin Invest 1996)

Benefits of Omega-3 Supplements

The benefits of taking omega-3 fish oil supplements are:
• A convenient and guaranteed dose
• Provides a rich source of DHA
• A high quality formulation
• Controlled, measurable dose
• A great tasting alternative to fish
• Scientifically proven