Omega-3 DHA in lactation: intake increases children's attention span
Breastfeeding and Omega 3: Taking DHA will improve attention span in children
Intake of about 200 milligrams per day ofOmega 3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) by new mothers who breastfeed in the 4 months after delivery increases children's sustained attention span at age 5. This was demonstrated in research published in the Journal of Pediatrics, in which researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, USA, analyzed the effect of the presence of this fatty acid in breast milk on the neuropsychological status of young children. The same research showed that DHA taken during this period, on the other hand, does not affect a child's visual abilities at this age.
Omega-3 in pregnancy and lactation
Taking Omega-3 during pregnancy is essential to promote the proper development of the fetus' nerve structures as well as reduce the likelihood of risky complications for mother and baby, such as miscarriage and premature birth. Several studies have also shown that proper Omega-3 intake during gestation and lactation protects the health of the young even after birth. Children of women who take these fatty acids during these periods run lower risks of developing conditions such asasthma, certain allergies and inflammatory disorders. Omega-3s also exert a beneficial effect on infants suffering from:
- behavioral disorders
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHAD)
- dyslexia
Children's IQ may also be positively affected by the consumption of these nutrients during pregnancy.
Omega-3s for more alert children
Researchers in Houston had already uncovered an interesting fact: 2 1/2-year-old children who are breastfed in the first 4 months of life by mothers taking DHA have better psychomotor development. The new research focused on the neuropsychological and visual abilities of these children at age 5. During breastfeeding, mothers were divided into 2 groups:
- mothers of the former took daily capsules containing about 200 milligrams of DHA for up to 4 months after delivery;
- those of the second were given a vegetable oil lacking this fatty acid.
Researchers assessed the motor, visual, executive, vocal and attention skills of childrenat the age of five . The data collected revealed that the children of women who had taken DHA scored better on tests assessing sustained attention span. Specifically, these children scored an average of 46.5 points on the specific scale used for the assessment. In contrast, the toddlers who had not taken the fatty acid through breast milk obtained an average score of only 41.9. All other parameters considered were comparable in the 2 groups.
