Childrens' diets linked to disorders

[_TJ_]

Children's diet link to disorders

Study shows dramatic effect of fish oil supplement

Felicity Lawrence
Monday May 2, 2005
The Guardian

British children are suffering behavioural and learning disorders because their diets are deficient in vital nutrients needed for their brains to function normally, a study reveals today.

Rigorous scientific research shows that the performance of underachieving children, some of whom were also disruptive, improved dramatically when their diets were supplemented with fish oils. The fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for brain development and function but are largely missing from modern processed diets.

The study, published in this month's issue of the American journal Pediatrics and conducted by researchers from Oxford University's department of physiology, found that some 40% of the children made dramatic improvements in reading and spelling when given supplements high in omega-3 essential fats.

The data also shows a significant improvement in concentration and behaviour. Symptoms of the sort associated with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were reduced by an order of magnitude usually achieved with stimulants such as Ritalin. Parents reported that other health problems, such as eczema and asthma, also improved, although no specific data on these other conditions has been published in the study.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/children/story/0,1074,1474691,00.html

[KurtNYC]

1. Ever pragmatic (and lovable) the Canadians are doing something

about malnutrition. Not sure why the British study isolated Omega 3 deficiencies when there are many deficiencies in the common diet.

Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto created Pablum decades ago and recently added "sprinkles" to their arsenal of treatments to prevent malnutrition. Yet another benefit of the single payer health care system -- spending on prevention to curtail overall health care expenses.

http://www.supplefer.com/

[Danmel]

2. Our pediatric neurologist told us that

when the school told us the kids were in need of meds.she told us to give them fish oils- She is not a big believer in medicating kids unless absolutely necessary.

[KoKo]

3. But do the "fish oils" contain mercury.? My Grandmother used to

give "Cod Liver Oil" to her children as a "Spring Tonic." Drug stores used to sell it, but that was a loooong time ago. Her children then forced it on my brother and I. It tasted wierd...oily and yucky..but no one in that side of the famiy had ATD or hyperactivity. It might have been a "Southern thing," because I don't know anyone in the Northeast who ever heard of it when they were a kid.

I don't know if you can even buy "Cod Liver Oil" in your local drug store, but assume those pills the GNC type stores sell would be similar.

But, what about the mercury? :shrug:

[madfox]

4. fish oil

Growing-up in the Chicago area back in the 1940's it was common practice for us (kids & adults) to take the daily spoonful of cod liver oil. The local Drs. would frequently recommend increased dosages to fight off colds and other illnesses. I also recall the Doc's Rx of liver for anemia or a low red blood count. Most of my classmates were on the cod liver oil Rx and dreaded that first drink of water in the morning.

Check out an excellent book on the many values of the fish oil source of Omega-3s: The Omega-3 Connection by Andrew L. Stoll, MD. An online contact to read about it is at www.simonsys.com

[madfox]

5. fish oil

Here's the complete online contact which will provide the first chapter of the book, The Omega-3 Connection by Andrew L. Stoll, MD:
http://www.simonsays.com/content/content.cfm?sid=33&pid=411478&agid=2&p=1

[KoKo]

6. Thanks for letting me know about your Chicago experience...BUT

do these "fish oils" have mercury? Would we all want to avoid fish that we buy who have high concentrations yet buy pills from the "health food stores" that contain high concentrations?

Who the hell knows what to do these days! :shrug:

Glad to hear someone else had the "Cod Liver Oil" experience though. :D

[Shallah Kali]

7. Cod Liver Oil prevented rickets (bow legged) & some eye problems

Cod Liver Oil has vitamin D which is necessary for good strong bones. Kids lacking it became bow legged and had other problems. The oil also has vitamin A which is necessary for good sight. Thousands of poor kids around the world still go blind from lack of vitamin A. That is why they tried to promote the GMO Golden Rice as a cure, never mind a kid would have to eat 7 pounds or more to get enough Vitamin A. Anyhow I am very glad my Mother gave me a mutlivitamin instead of the cod liver oil her mother gave her!!!

As for mercury fish oils can be risky. I don't know if there are any brands that filter for it but there are alternatives to fish. One brand of supplements that gives you the good stuff in fish oil is Neuromins DHA which is derived from marine algae. Also flax seed oil has some of the same properties that fish oil has.

[KoKo]

8. Thanks for the extra info on that...Cod Liver Oil...yuck...flaxseed and

the other stuff are maybe a good alternative.

[Shallah Kali]

10. ConsumerLab tested 41 fishoils - no mercury

So I was wrong, at least about these brands, about fish oils being unsafe for that reason:
http://www.consumerlab.com/results/omega3.asp

I am glad to know I was wrong as this is much better for those kids with adhd than heavy duty stimulents like ritalin

[Liberty Belle]

9. Here's a source of omeaga fatty acids/DHA that's not from fish oil:

http://www.martekbio.com/Nutritional_Products/Introduction.asp

Martek Biosciences derives its omega fatty acids/DHA from algae grown in sterile tanks, so no contamination with mercury in seawater.

It's also vegetarian, for those who don't eat fish.