| According to a recent study which was published | | | | several types of depressive disorders, including |
| in the 'Archives of Disease in Childhood' in 2006, | | | | post natal depression. EPA in particular is believed |
| babies born to women who took fish oil | | | | to improve concentration and memory and |
| supplements during the last 4 months of | | | | cognitive function in general, and some studies |
| pregnancy had better hand to eye coordination, | | | | have shown it can even help to prevent or slow |
| were better speakers and could understand more | | | | down the progress of Alzheimer's disease. |
| at the age of two and a half, than babies born to | | | | It is during the last three months of pregnancy |
| mothers who were given olive oil instead. | | | | that the baby's brain is developing very rapidly |
| The Study | | | | and so this is a time when it is particularly vital |
| The double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled | | | | that the mother gets enough of the essential |
| trial was conducted by the University of Western | | | | Omega 3 fatty acids that are only found in any |
| Australia and led by Professor Susan Prescott. | | | | significant quantities in oily fish such as Salmon, |
| Also involved in the study were King Edward | | | | Tuna, Mackerel, Herring and Anchovies. These |
| Memorial Hospital for Women, Princess Margaret | | | | fatty acids facilitate healthy structure and |
| Hospital for Children and Telethon Institute for | | | | development of the brain and many professionals |
| Child Health Research and Centre for Child Health | | | | now believe it is DHA that is important for the |
| Research Australia. | | | | structure of the brain and EPA for efficient |
| A total of 98 women were initially enrolled in the | | | | functioning of the brain on a day to day basis. |
| study, all of who were non smokers and who did | | | | Scientists at The University of Bristol in the UK |
| not regularly consume more than 2 portions of | | | | are currently investigating the benefits of giving |
| oily fish a week. A total of eighty three of these | | | | fish oil to children, as much of the evidence to |
| women completed the study. Researchers gave | | | | date has come from dietary factors during |
| half of the women in the trial 4gr of fish oil | | | | pregnancy. For example, previous research by |
| supplements on a daily basis from twenty weeks | | | | Bristol University found that children whose |
| of pregnancy and these supplements contained a | | | | mothers ate fish regularly during pregnancy had |
| combination of both Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) | | | | better vision and cognitive development and |
| and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The remainder | | | | behaviour than those whose mothers ate little or |
| of the women were given 4gr of Olive Oil. | | | | no fish. |
| Development checks were carried out on a total | | | | So why don't we just eat more fish? |
| of 72 of the babies when they had reached the | | | | Due to the potentially high levels of toxins, |
| age of two and a half years. | | | | particularly mercury, in fresh fish, the current |
| The children whose mothers received fish oil had | | | | recommendation is for pregnant women and |
| a significantly higher score for eye-hand | | | | women and girls who might have a baby one day |
| coordination than the babies whose mothers had | | | | in the future to eat no more than 2 portions of |
| been given olive oil instead. The growth rates | | | | fish a week, one of which should be oily, and no |
| were similar in both groups, as were the general | | | | more than 4 portions of fish for everyone else, |
| language skills, however, the fish oil group showed | | | | no more than two of which should be oily. |
| higher scores for receptive language, phrase | | | | The indications are that Pharmaceutical grade fish |
| length and vocabulary. The positive results were | | | | oil might be an option for everyone, including |
| not related to possibly influential factors such as | | | | during pregnancy and beyond. Indeed, this type of |
| maternal age and length of time breastfeeding as | | | | fish oil is superior to standard grade fish oils and is |
| these factors had already been accounted for. | | | | becoming increasingly popular because the |
| Fatty acids and the brain | | | | processes involved in producing it means the oil |
| The link between Omega 3 fatty acids and the | | | | has been filtered and concentrated to contain high |
| brain has already been well established and many | | | | levels of the all important fatty acids without the |
| studies have now shown that fish oil can alleviate | | | | danger of toxins associated with fresh fish. |
| the symptoms or help to prevent the onset of | | | | |