Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Study provides evidence that omega-3 supplementation reduced aggressive and disorderly behavior in participating children by 24.6% compared to control group.
Proper nutrition during early childhood is essential for proper brain function. Poor nutrition in early childhood is associated with increased aggressive behavior through adolescence (1) by negatively impacting brain structure and function (2). Brain abnormalities have been found not just in adults with aggressive behavior problems (3) but also in children with aggressive behavior (4). As a result, improved nutrition through adolescence is thought to possibly help with behavior problems.
Now a new study (5) suggests that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in children may help with aggressive and disorderly behavior. The study involved 200 children between the ages of 8 and 16. They were given either 1,000 milligrams per day of omega-3 fats (given in a fruit shake = 100 children) or a placebo (100 children) per day for 6 months.
The children filled out a questionnaire called the reactive-proactive aggression questionnaire (RPQ) (6) and the parents filled out a questionnaire called the psychopathic personality inventory (PPI) (7). After 6 months, the researchers noted significant improvements in behavior, as recorded in the responses to these two questionnaires:
RPQ Before
Omega-3
RPQ After
Omega-3
Change p-value PPI Before
Omega-3
PPI After
Omega-3
Change p - value
Placebo Group 4.58 5 + 9.1% < 0.01 116.55 117.07 + 0.45% < 0.01
Omega-3 Group 7.57 6.4 - 15.5% < 0.01 116.95 108.11 - 7.6% < 0.01
While the researchers admit they cannot state exactly how omega-3 fats produce these improvements in behavior, they researcher discuss that “long-chain fatty acid plays a critical role in brain structure and function,” making up 35% of the cell membrane and enhancing nerve function and regulating levels of nerve chemicals called neurotransmitters (8).
For the researchers, “These findings provide initial evidence that omega-3 supplementation can produce sustained reductions in…behavior problems.”
Source: Raine, Adrian, et al. “Reduction in behavior problems with omega‐3 supplementation in children aged 8–16 years: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, stratified, parallel‐group trial.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 56.5 (2015): 509-520.
© 2014 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Posted September 9, 2014.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com
References:
- Liu, J.H., Raine, A., Venables, P.H., Dalais, C., & Mednick, S.A. (2004). Malnutrition at age 3 years and externalizing behavior problems at ages 8, 11 and 17 years. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 2005–2013
- Liu, J.H. (2011). Early health risk factors for violence: Conceptualization, evidence, and implications. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 16, 63–73
- Glenn, A.L., & Raine, A. (2014). Psychopathy: An introduction to biological findings and their implications. New York: New York University Press
- Viding, E., Sebastian, C.L., Dadds, M.R., Lockwood, P.L., Cecil, C.A., De Brito, S.A., & McCrory, E.J. (2012). Amygdala response to preattentive masked fear in children with conduct problems: The role of callous-unemotional traits. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169, 1109–1116.
