Omega-3 fatty acids

[Oleron]

I have heard a lot about the health benefits of taking fish oil supplements for young children. The primary benefits are in the areas of early brain development, heart disease prevention and possible cancer protection in later life.

The evidence for these claims is a little confusing:

The Oxford-Durham trial (http://eprints.ouls.ox.ac.uk/archive/00000980/)

Burgess (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/71/1/327S)

Birch (http://www.pedresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/44/2/201)

Review (http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/X8576M/x8576m05.htm)

I have a 2 yo daughter and am considering giving these supplements to her. Does anyone have any opinions on these supplements?

[NeilC]

I think you are correct. The evidence is confusing. I too think about this re: my young children.

Another major issue is the contamination of fish and fish products. As a parent you wouldn't forgive yourself if you discovered you'd been forcefeeding your kids with PCBs for 10 years. Having said that, real fish is supposedly more likely to contain mercury as it’s compounds are water soluble. Now we’ve polluted the entire ocean it’s hard to win.

I think if you make the effort to get contaminant free oil and use low doses you are at least modifying their diet to reflect a balanced diet including fish which can't be too bad a thing.

[Nero]

I have heard a lot about the health benefits of taking fish oil supplements for young children. The primary benefits are in the areas of early brain development, heart disease prevention and possible cancer protection in later life.

The evidence for these claims is a little confusing:

The Oxford-Durham trial (http://eprints.ouls.ox.ac.uk/archive/00000980/)

Burgess (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/71/1/327S)

Birch (http://www.pedresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/44/2/201)

Review (http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/X8576M/x8576m05.htm)

I have a 2 yo daughter and am considering giving these supplements to her. Does anyone have any opinions on these supplements?

Can I suggest you check out Ben Goldacre's Bad Science web site, alot of very good information re this, especially around the Durham "trial".

www.badscience.net