Researchers have found a link between low levels of omega-3 fatty acids and the difficulty of learning of children, which comes to endorse the importance of these substances and their multiple and varied health benefits.
In the elaboration of their study, the authors found, first of all, that schoolchildren between seven and nine years old had low levels of omega-3 in their blood and that, in addition, the levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the most abundant in the brain, they already predicted significantly to what extent they would be able to concentrate and learn.
The researchers took blood samples from 493 schoolchildren between seven and nine years of age from 74 schools, based on national evaluations made at seven years of age or the current opinions of their teachers. After analyzing the samples, the researchers determined that, on average, only less than two percent of the fatty acids found in the samples were DHA, and 0.5 percent eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), with a total of 2, 45 percent combined of both.
According to its authors, the research shows that the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in blood predict a child’s behavior and ability to learn. High levels of omega-3, especially DHA, were associated with greater ability to read and memorize, as well as fewer behavioral problems, according to parents and teachers.
The researchers also indicated that the longer-term health implications of such low levels of omega-3 in blood are unknown, but that the findings should lead to serious reflection, given their relationship with poor behavior and poor capacity. of reading in children. At the same time, they pointed out that those low levels of omega-3 in adults would translate into a high risk of heart disease.