Children’s Reading Improved With Omega-3/ Omega-6 Supplementation

A newly published study of 154 Swedish schoolchildren between nine and ten years old showed that three months of supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids improved reading their reading skills. The children in this study were divided into two groups to receive either capsules with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, or identical looking placebo capsules that did not contain them. Until the study was completed neither the children, their parents or the researchers knew which children had received the  fatty acids and which had received the placebo capsules.

Lead researcher Dr. Mats Johnson said, “After three months, we could see that the children’s reading skills improved with the addition of fatty acids, compared with those who received the placebo. This was particularly evident in the ability to read a nonsense word aloud and pronounce it correctly (phonologic decoding), and the ability to read a series of letters quickly (visual analysis time).”

Although the study did not include children who had been formally diagnosed with ADHD, with the input of parents the researchers were able to show that children with attention problems had an even greater improvement in their reading test scores.

The role of essential fatty acids in brain development has been the subject of scientific research for many years and has positively impacted the science behind producing the most beneficial effective ingredients to use in baby formula. Dr. Johnson explains, “Our modern diet contains relatively little omega-3, which it is believed to have a negative effect on our children when it comes to learning, literacy and attention. The cell membranes in the brain are largely made up of polyunsaturated fats, and there are studies that indicate that fatty acids are important for signal transmission between nerve cells and the regulation of signaling systems in the brain. Our study suggests that children could benefit from a dietary supplement with a special formula. To be more certain about the results, they should also be replicated in other studies.”  This study appears  in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

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