Omega-3 fatty acids in boys with behavior, learning, and health problems.

Stevens LJ, Zentall SS, Abate ML, Kuczek T, Burgess JR.

Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1264, USA.

The purpose of the study reported here was to compare behavior, learning, and health problems in boys ages 6 to 12 with lower plasma phospholipid total omega-3 or total omega-6 fatty acid levels with those boys with higher levels of these fatty acids. A greater frequency of symptoms indicative of essential fatty acid deficiency was reported by the parents of subjects with lower plasma omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acid concentrations than those with higher levels. A greater number of behavior problems, assessed by the Conners' Rating Scale, temper tantrums, and sleep problems were reported in subjects with lower total omega-3 fatty acid concentrations. Additionally, more learning and health problems were found in subjects with lower total omega-3 fatty acid concentrations. (Only more colds and more antibiotic use were reported by those subjects with lower total omega-6 fatty acids). These findings are discussed in relation to recent findings for omega-3 experimentally deprived animals.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8778886&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum