DHA / EFA in children

Dallas–Dietary long-chain fatty acids affect infants’ visual development well beyond the previously suggested period of six weeks, according to researchers from the Retina Foundation of the Southwest, who published their study in the March issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (75, 3:570-80, 2002) (www.ajcn.org). Researchers divided 65 healthy term infants, who were weaned from breast milk at six weeks, into two groups. The treatment group received formula supplemented with long-chain fatty acids and the placebo group received non-supplemented formula.
At 17, 26 and 52 weeks, the infants were tested for acuity (keenness of perception, sharpness) and stereo acuity (three-dimensional acuity). Results indicated that despite a dietary supply of fatty acids from breast milk during the first six weeks of life, infants who were weaned to placebo formula had significantly poorer visual acuity at each test period and significantly poorer stereo acuity at 17 weeks of age than the infants who were weaned to long-chain fatty acid formula. Researchers concluded that better acuity and stereo acuity at 17 weeks were correlated with higher plasma concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and better acuity at 52 weeks was correlated with higher blood and plasma concentrations of DHA. –Source: Natural Products Industry Insider, May 6, 2002 www.naturalproductsinsider.com Note Signal369 contains DHA and EPA.

Fatty Acid Supplementation May Aid Kids with ADHD

London–Supplementation with highly unsaturated fatty acids seems to reduce symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with learning difficulties, according to researchers at the Imperial College School of Medicine who published their findings in the February issue of Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry (26, 2:233-39, 2002) (www.elsevier.com). Researchers involved 41 children (aged 8 to 12 years) with specific learning difficulties and above-average ADHD ratings. The children were randomly assigned to either supplementation with highly unsaturated fatty acids-arachidonic acid (AA), dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), docosahexaenic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-or placebo for 12 weeks. At baseline, groups did not differ, but after 12 weeks, the supplement group demonstrated a reduction in cognitive and general behavior problems as compared to the placebo group. The treatment group also demonstrated improvements from baseline in seven out of 14 scales for active treatment as compared to none in the placebo group. Researchers concluded that supplementation with highly unsaturated fatty acids appears to reduce ADHD-related symptoms in children with specific learning difficulties, and results from this pilot study strongly support the need for future trials. –Source: Natural Products Industry Insider, May 6, 2002 www.naturalproductsinsider.com Note Signal369 contains DHA and EPA.