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Monday, 12 June 2006 10:20 | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk
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Children may be given Omega 3 fish oil supplements at school to improve their behaviour and academic performance under proposals being considered by ministers.
Many parents already give the children a daily dose of the nutrient after studies showed it can significantly improve concentration, learning power and behaviour.
Some teachers recommend that parents give unruly children Omega 3 and the associated Omega 6, but the supplements are expensive and many families cannot afford them.
The government has now asked the Food Standards Agency to provide a definitive opinion on the benefits of taking Omega 3 supplements.
Education Secretary Alan Johnson said yesterday: “The Agency is conducting a systematic review of research looking at the effect of nutrition and diet on performance and behaviour of children in schools.
“This includes investigating studies that have used Omega 3 and 6 fish oil supplements in schools.
“The Government is committed to ensuring children are provided with the healthy food and nutrients they require, not just to aid their physical health but to ensure they can study hard and behave well.”
But scientists warned last night that supplements would not solve the wider problem. Professor Michael Crawford, one the UK's leading experts, said: “It is a proven fact that Omega 3 improves brain development. It is one of the fundamental building blocks of human and animal life.
“I would support giving a supplement of something like cod liver oil. We did it during the last war, for goodness sake, and it did us the power of good.
“It is only a sticking plaster, however. The much better alternative is eating a good mix of foods, coupled with teaching children and the general population about nutrition and diet.”
Professor Crawford is director of the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition at London Metropolitan University.
He said: “We are in danger of creating generations who rely on pharmaceutical companies to be fed pills when what people really need is good food.
“Far better than supplements is eating fish and seafood, because they not only contain Omega 3 but also a wealth of trace elements which are important for the brain and body. If you just have the fish oil, you are only doing half the job.”
Professor Crawford said it would be far more effective to ensure that pregnant women have the important fatty acids. He said: “Evidence from Norway, where women were given supplements during pregnancy, found the children were better off in terms of IQ at four years of age.”
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