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Omega-3 DHA and children’s behaviour and learning D
r Alex Richardson is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, and Founder Director of the charity Food and Behaviour (FAB) Research. She is internationally known for her pioneering research into the importance of omega-3 fatty acids for children’s behavioural and cognitive development. Here she shares her thoughts on the benefits of incorporating regular amounts in children’s diets.
Omega-3 fatty acids are dietary essentials, needed for mental as well as physical health and development. In particular, the long-chain omega-3 (EPA and DHA, found in fish, seafood and
some algae) are critical for normal brain development and functioning, as well as for a healthy heart and immune system.
DHA is the most important omega-3 in the brain. It is a key building block of brain and nerve cell membranes, needed not only for the growth of brain cells, but also to make the connections between them that support all learning and memory. DHA is particularly important for vision, so deficiencies are associated with many visual and attentional problems, as well as with other difficulties in behaviour, learning and mood. Low blood levels of Omega-3 DHA have often been reported in children with ADHD, and linked with poor attention and behaviour as well as general health. Furthermore, controlled trials have shown benefits from dietary supplementation in children with ADHD and related conditions such as dyslexia and Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD). Until recently, however, very little was known about blood omega-3 status in the general child population. We therefore investigated this in a representative sample
of 493 healthy children aged 7-9 years from mainstream UK schools, along with age-standardized measures of their reading, working memory and behaviour.
Almost all the children we studied had worryingly low blood levels of the long-chain omega-3 most important for brain and body health (EPA and DHA), averaging just under 2.5%. In adults, for instance, values of less than 4% signify a high risk for heart disease, while 8% or above is considered optimal. These low levels were in keeping with parents’ reports that almost 9 out of 10 of these children failed to meet current UK dietary guidelines for fish consumption, which recommend 2 servings of fish each week. Importantly, the children’s blood levels of the long-chain Omega-3 also predicted how well they were able to concentrate and learn. Higher blood levels of omega-3, and DHA in particular, were associated with better reading and working memory, as well as with fewer parent-rated behaviour problems such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Associations alone are never enough to prove causality – but in an earlier study involving 362 of these children who were behind with their reading (those in the lowest third of the normal range), we showed that dietary supplementation with 600mg/day of omega-3 DHA significantly improved their behaviour, leading to reductions in hyperactivity, impulsivity and other ‘ADHD-type’ symptoms. For the poorest 20% of readers, 4 months of supplementation with 600mg/day of algal-source DHA also boosted their average reading progress. Children receiving DHA gained between 20% and 50% in their reading age compared with those given placebo treatment, with the greatest gains shown by the poorest readers. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings, but DHA supplementation appears to offer a safe and effective way to improve reading and behaviour in healthy but underperforming children from mainstream schools. In the meanwhile, teachers might do well to check that their school’s meals provide a good intake of omega-3 DHA, and/or to discuss this with any parents who may be interested. Fish and seafood are the best natural sources of DHA, but as an alternative, this key omega-3, sourced from fish oil or algae, is increasingly available in supplements or fortified foods.
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www.ox.ac.uk
National Youth Film Festival now open to teachers T
eachers can now book tickets for the first National Youth Film Festival, taking place at venues all over the UK from 21 October–8 November 2013. This ground-breaking new Festival is free to school groups all over the UK and offers young people aged 5-19 the chance to enjoy a wide variety of films, learn about film-making and meet film industry professionals. Linked to a packed programme of over 1600 free screenings, Q&A’s, workshops and events are over 100 teaching resources, including several related to the curriculum, to enable teachers to use screenings to bring learning to life, develop review writing and critical skills, or teach pupils about film and filmmaking. These range from a resource about using film in the classroom to a beginner’s guide to French films, review writing guides, resources to enhance teaching of GCSE novels, resources placing films in a historical context and others suggesting activities linked to science, geography and drama. There will also be guides to copyright and classification, and basic how-to guides for young film- makers, animators and documentary makers.
The programme will have a strong emphasis on young people and film- making, with short films made by young people shown at every screening during the festival, and programming by young people to highlight films that have particularly resonated with a young audience. Filmmaking workshops, competitions and awards will be offered giving young people the opportunity to showcase and develop their skills. NYFF has also produced a free, downloadable In-school Festivals ‘how to’ guide to encourage schools to run their own mini festival. The National Youth Film Festival will take place annually in venues throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with 407 cinemas confirmed to take part this year, screening over 130 films. Continuing on the success of National Schools Film Week, the Festival is aimed at schools and colleges and tickets can be booked free of charge by teachers. It is delivered by FILM NATION UK and supported by the TES and UK wide film industry including BFI, Cinema First and RealD 3D.
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www.nationalyouthfilmfestival.org 6
www.education-today.co.uk October 2013
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