DHA May Aid Children's Reading Ability, Memory

PARSIPPANY, N.J.Higher blood levels of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are linked to an increased reading ability and memory performance in children, according to a new study published in the PLOS ONE journal.

Researchers at the University of Oxford found an increased dietary intake of omega-3s may be beneficial for healthy children ages 7 to 9 years who are underperforming in school. The studys subjects included 493 healthy children recruited from mainstream state schools in Oxfordshire, U.K., who were underperforming in literacy skills.

Blood samples revealed the sample population had on average a blood fatty acid level of 1.9 percent of DHA and 0.55 percent of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), with a total of 2.46 percent combined DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids. This is below the minimum of 4 percent recommended by leading scientists to maintain cardiovascular health in adults, according to researchers.

Lower DHA concentrations were associated with poorer reading abilities and working memory performance, as well as higher levels of parent-rated oppositional behavior and emotional lability. Researchers looked at the diet of each child and found 88.2 percent of children ate fish less than twice per week and 9 percent did not eat fish at all, as reported by their parents.

These findings will be presented by Alex Richardson, one of the researchers behind the study, at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo in Chicago from July 13 to 16, 2013. The education session titled Omega 3 Fatty Acids and the Importance of it for Childrens Behavioral and Cognitive Development" will be held on Monday, July 15.

DHA is a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid found throughout the body. It is a major structural fat in the brain, accounting for up to 97 percent of the brain's omega-3 fats. Numerous studies confirm that DHA benefits infants and adults, and an adequate supply of DHA can improve brain health during any stage of life.