Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e43909. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043909. Epub 2012 Sep 6.
Omega-3 fatty acids are dietary essentials, and the current low intakes in most modern developed countries are believed to contribute to a wide variety of physical and mental health problems. Evidence from clinical trials indicates that dietary supplementation with long-chain omega-3 may improve child behavior and learning, although most previous trials have involved children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Here we investigated whether such benefits might extend to the general child population.
To determine the effects of dietary supplementation with the long-chain omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the reading, working memory, and behavior of healthy schoolchildren.
Parallel group, fixed-dose, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT).
Mainstream primary schools in Oxfordshire, UK (n = 74).
Healthy children aged 7-9 years initially underperforming in reading (≤ 33(rd) centile). 1376 invited, 362 met study criteria.
600 mg/day DHA (from algal oil), or taste/color matched corn/soybean oil placebo.
Age-standardized measures of reading, working memory, and parent- and teacher-rated behavior.
ITT analyses showed no effect of DHA on reading in the full sample, but significant effects in the pre-planned subgroup of 224 children whose initial reading performance was ≤ 20(th) centile (the target population in our original study design). Parent-rated behavior problems (ADHD-type symptoms) were significantly reduced by active treatment, but little or no effects were seen for either teacher-rated behaviour or working memory.
DHA supplementation appears to offer a safe and effective way to improve reading and behavior in healthy but underperforming children from mainstream schools. Replication studies are clearly warranted, as such children are known to be at risk of low educational and occupational outcomes in later life.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01066182 and Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN99771026.
ω-3 脂肪酸是饮食中的必需成分，目前大多数现代发达国家的摄入量都很低，据信这会导致各种身心健康问题。临床试验的证据表明，长链 ω-3 脂肪酸的饮食补充可能会改善儿童的行为和学习，尽管之前的大多数试验都涉及到患有神经发育障碍的儿童，如注意力缺陷/多动障碍（ADHD）或发育协调障碍（DCD）。在这里，我们研究了这些益处是否可能扩展到一般儿童群体。
确定长链 ω-3 二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）饮食补充对健康学龄儿童阅读、工作记忆和行为的影响。
平行组、固定剂量、随机、双盲、安慰剂对照试验（RCT）。
英国牛津郡的主流小学（n = 74）。
最初阅读成绩低于（≤ 33 百分位）的 7-9 岁健康儿童。邀请了 1376 人，有 362 人符合研究标准。
每天 600 毫克 DHA（来自藻类油）或味道/颜色匹配的玉米/大豆油安慰剂。
年龄标准化的阅读、工作记忆以及父母和教师评定的行为测量。
ITT 分析显示，DHA 对全样本的阅读没有影响，但在最初阅读成绩≤20 百分位（我们原始研究设计中的目标人群）的 224 名儿童的预计划亚组中，DHA 有显著影响。经积极治疗，父母评定的行为问题（ADHD 型症状）显著减少，但对教师评定的行为或工作记忆几乎没有影响。
DHA 补充似乎为改善来自主流学校的健康但表现不佳的儿童的阅读和行为提供了一种安全有效的方法。显然需要进行复制研究，因为众所周知，这些儿童在以后的生活中面临着低教育和职业结果的风险。
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01066182 和 Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN99771026。
