What are the Benefits of Omega 3?
I get asked a lot of questions about Omega 3 and it’s something I speak a lot about.Ā I’ve also written about it a few times.
There’s been huge amounts of researchĀ done over the past few years into OmegaĀ 3 and the effects it can have onĀ children. In particular children with special needs and learning difficulties. And they’ve found that it has some fairly significantĀ benefits.
In particular Omega 3 has been found toĀ help things like anxiety, hyperactivity,Ā concentration, general brain function,Ā memory, even things like depression. SoĀ for children with Autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorders even an Intellectual Disability, having lots of Omega 3 in their system can be reallyĀ beneficial.Ā
The problem is that most childrenĀ simply don’t get enough Omega 3. BecauseĀ most kids either don’t eat enough oilyĀ fish if any. Therefore, it canĀ be really good to give them a supplement.
Supplements
There are so many different supplementsĀ out there and getting the right quantity can beĀ a bit of a minefield.Ā
Often parentsĀ who are aware that their children need toĀ be having Omega 3 will go out andĀ buy the kids jelly sweet supplements. UnfortunatelyĀ these aren’t great. TheĀ problem with them is that there’s not veryĀ much Omega 3 actually in them.
For example, myĀ son who’s 11 needs to be having 1200Ā milligrams of Omega 3 per day in accordance with the Institute of Medicine guidelines. TheseĀ jelly sweets contain 15 to 30Ā milligrams in each one. So he wouldĀ have to be taking practically a whole tub every day just to beĀ getting his daily quantity.
By giving them kids jelly sweets all it’s really doing isĀ giving them a whole load of sugar andĀ probably a load of additives and colourings as well. SoĀ the best thing to do is just to skipĀ kids ones altogether and go straight to the adult supplements.Ā
The adults ones don’t taste nice andĀ they’re not squidgy and chewy. As they are just pure fish oil,Ā getting them to take themĀ can be quite tricky. Because Lachlan’s been having them for aĀ year now, he’s pretty good, he justĀ shoves the capsules in his mouth. HeĀ can’t swallow them yet but what he willĀ do is just chew them, suck all theĀ liquid out and then spit the emptyĀ capsules into the bin.
He wouldn’tĀ have done that straight away though. So withĀ many kids if they won’t swallow theĀ capsule, you can either pierce the end ofĀ it and just squeeze the liquid onto aĀ spoon and give it to them that way. Or,Ā because it doesn’t taste very nice, itĀ tastes a bit fishy, you can just put itĀ into their food or into a drink for them.
What type of supplement?
Omega 3Ā is made up of two things,Ā DHA and EPA. Now the reason this isĀ important is because depending on theĀ age of your child, depends on how much ofĀ each of those they need.
If your childĀ is 4 years or under they need to be having aĀ supplement that is higher in DHA than EPA.Ā Approximately two-thirds DHA toĀ one-third EPA. The reason for this isĀ that DHA focuses on early brain development. Whereas EPA is more about brain function andĀ brain stability. For younger kidsĀ getting high levels of DHA isĀ really important.
If you’ve got a childĀ who’s 5 years and over, they need to be onĀ a supplement that is higher in EPA thanĀ DHA. So the opposite way around,Ā just about two-thirds EPA toĀ one-third DHA.
A lot of adult capsules (not all, but some) containĀ 300 milligrams of Omega 3 in total. AndĀ that might be made up of 180 milligramsĀ of EPA to 120 milligrams of DHA. That isĀ perfect for a child who’s 5 years and over.
It will say on the pack the total amount of Omega 3, andĀ it will also say the quantity of EPA and
the quantity of DHA.
How much Omega 3 should I give my child?
Getting the quantity right is the most important thing. This can be quite tricky as all children are unique. So it may be important for you to try them on them with the amount recommended below. But after a couple of months try increasing it slightly or reducing it slightly to find the quantity that suits your child.
If your child is under the age of 6, they should be having 600 mgs a day of total Omega 3.Ā Two capsules if the capsules containĀ 300 mgs each.
Related Article – Are Heavy Metals in your Child’s System Affecting their Special Needs?
If your child isĀ between the age of 6 and 10 they should be havingĀ 800 – 900 mgsĀ a day.
And finally, If yourĀ child is over the age of 10, now this isĀ the only time where it matters ifĀ they’re a girl or a boy. If they’re a boyĀ they need to be having 1200 mgs aĀ day, if it’s a girl 1000 mgsĀ a day.
Should you have any concerns you should seek advice rom your doctor. Also if your child has a blood disorder, it is important to speak to your doctor before giving them the supplement.
The FDA guidelines, although quite vague, do recommend that the maximum Omega 3 daily intake for anyone should remain below 3000. So just be aware if you do decide to increase your child’s dose to keep it below the 3000 mg daily recommended limit.
Research
Although research into the effects of Omega 3 has been massive over the past few years, there is still no definitive answers as to what the best amount to give a child with a special need or learning difficulty, actually is. And there are some researchers, such as Dr Sandy Newmark M.D (an ADHD specialist) who recommends between 2000 – 2500 mgs per day.
But I think if you start with the amount’s I’ve suggested above, then slowly over time alter to find the perfect amount for your child.
If you have any questions, you can email me at rebeccaperkins@myspecialchildonline.com
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