DHA and its sibling, the anti-inflammatory Omega-3 EPA, which are several times the usual supplemental amounts.
Deficiency Signs
What are some hints that your child is deficient in the Omega-3 fatty acids? Does s/he have dry skin? Rough elbows? Even if these signs are only noticeable in winter (when the lubricating effects of the EFAs are most needed), they are telling you that your child’s EFA levels are marginal at best. Eye irritation, blinking frequently, rubbing the eyes, can all indicate a lack of the lubricating EFAs from fish oil. Skin problems, from cradle cap to eczema, from seborrheic dermatitis to acne, have a connection to EFA deficiency and warrant supplementation. Allergies and asthma, similarly, benefit from EFA supplementation and suggest deficiency states. Does your child have learning, behavioral, developmental or mood issues that may not meet criteria for a specific diagnosis, but are nevertheless limiting his or her potential and negatively affect- ing your family? Think EFA deficiency. And, because the diets and lifestyles which promote such deficiency tend to be familial, think EFAs for the entire family! Finally, if you really want to get a precise picture of your child’s fatty acid status, testing is available through special laboratories which provide this kind of analysis for naturopathic and other func- tional medicine physicians.
How to Choose a Fish Oil Product If there were one supplement I could prescribe for every child,
it would be an excellent fish oil, made by a manufacturer using high standards of quality control. A high-quality fish oil/ EFA supplement will probably cost more than many, but do take care to choose one manufactured in a facility which adheres to pharmaceutical-level production practices; which is third-party assayed for contaminants (mercury, arsenic, cadmium, dioxins, PCBs); and is stabilized with natural antioxidants (such as tocopherol [vitamin E], ascorbyl palmi- tate [a form of vitamin C], rosemary) to reduce the rate of deteriora- tion in the bottle. Quality supplements meet or exceed standards for fish oil purity set by IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards), GOED (Global Organization for EPA and DHA), U.S. EPA, and CRN (Council for Responsible Nutrition) organizations. These products
are often molecularly distilled, pharmaceutical-grade, and sustain- ably sourced; their labels are specific as to the marine animals from which the oils are extracted (eg. salmon, cod, mackerel, calamari, sardines, herring, krill). A good fish oil supplement can have a slight seafood smell but, in the same way that the fish you buy for dinner can smell cleanly of the ocean but should not smell very “fishy”, it should not smell or taste (or burp) excessively of fish – this sug- gests rancidity. And most children’s formulas add natural fruit flavors which make them quite tasty. Grandma’s tales of being dosed as a child with cod liver oil speak to the long-recognized, powerful benefits of fish oil in many areas of children’s health and growth. By taking the simple step of adding fish oil supplements to your child’s diet, you are supporting them in becoming the best they can be.
Debra Gibson, N.D. practices naturopathic family medicine in her Ridgefield, CT office. She can be reached at 203-431-4443 or at
drgibsonsoffice@sbcglobal.net. See ad on page 12.
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