5 ways Omega-3 DHA fish oil benefits kids
It’s important for supporting brain development and eye health, but many kids aren’t getting adequate amounts of the essential nutrient Omega-3 DHA through diet alone.
Children grow up in the blink of an eye.
There’s a lot going on in those formative years – in fact, a child’s brain grows to 95 per cent1 of its peak size by six years old.
And there’s an essential fatty acid that plays an important part2 in supporting healthy growth and development, children’s brain function, and eye health, as well as children’s learning and information processing when dietary intake is inadequate.
Here’s what to know about Omega-3 DHA, and how to ensure your child is getting enough.
What exactly is Omega-3 DHA?
Omega-3s are a type of healthy fat that play many roles in the human body.
They’re called “essential” because we can’t produce them on our own, meaning they have to come from our diet.
There are three major types of Omega-3s – ALA, DHA and EPA.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is found predominantly in fatty fish and seafood.
Why is Omega-3 DHA so important for children?
There are various ways Omega-3 DHA benefits children:
Supporting learning and information processing
During early childhood the brain undergoes rapid growth and development and DHA supports the formation3 of brain cell membranes and synapses, key structures for typical learning and information processing.
Supporting healthy growth
Research has also shown DHA can also support growth and development during a child’s early years.
Supporting brain development
Kids’ brains grow fast4, so much so that the brain is already at 95 per cent of its peak size by the age of six.
DHA plays a crucial role in supporting brain development and function in those early years.
Supporting eye health
Omega-3 DHA is also a key component of the retina, the part of the eye responsible for vision, meaning it supports eye health, particularly retina health, as well as maintaining eye function3.
Supporting cognitive function
There’s a reason DHA is referred to as a “building block” of the brain, with science finding5 it can help support brain development and cognitive function such as thinking, reasoning, remembering and mental processing.
How do we ensure our children are getting enough Omega-3 DHA?
With DHA most commonly found in fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, it can be challenging for parents to make sure kids get enough through what’s served up for lunch and dinner.
In fact, 40 per cent1 of children aged two to 16 don’t receive adequate Omega-3.
Supplementing is a great way to help bridge the gap when dietary intake is inadequate.
Nature’s Way Kids Smart Bursts DHA 300mg Triple Strength contains a high dose of DHA for children in a great tasting chewable burst. And bonus, the bursts are also 99.9 per cent sugar free.
DHA from Omega-3 fish oil has been found to support brain development and eye health and at a 300mg dose, also supports learning and information processing when dietary intake is inadequate.
Essential indeed.
* This post is brought to you by Nature’s Way Kids Smart Bursts DHA 300mg Triple Strength. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
1Giedd JN, Rapoport JL, 2010, Structural MRI of pediatric brain development: what have we learned and where are we going? Neuron, 9;67(5):728-34, retrieved July 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3285464/
2Gonzales F, Baez R, 2017, In Time: Importance of Omega 3 in Children’s Nutrition, Revista Paulista de Pediatria, Jan-Mar 35(1): 3-4, retrieved July 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5417803/
3Connye N et al, 2013, The relationship of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) with Learning and Behaviour in Healthy Children: A Review, Nutrients, 5(7): 2777-2810, retrieved July 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3738999/
4Li J et al, 2021, Health benefits of docosahexaenoic acid and its availability: A review, Food Science Nutrition, 9(9) 5229-5243, retrieved July 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8441440/
5Khalid et al, 2022, Functional behaviour of DHA and EPA in the formation of babies brain at different stages of age, and protect from different brain-related diseases. International journal of Food Properties, pp 1021-1044, retrieved July 2023, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10942912.2022.2070642
