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Roach LA, Byrne MK, Howard SJ, Johnstone SJ, Batterham M, Wright IMR, Okely AD, de Groot RHM, van der Wurff ISM, Jones AL, Meyer BJ. Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation on Self-Regulation in Typically Developing Preschool-Aged Children: Results of the Omega Kid Pilot Study-A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13103561. [PMID: 34684562 PMCID: PMC8539495 DOI: 10.3390/nu13103561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Supplementation of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) may enhance self-regulation (SR) and executive functioning (EF) in children of preschool age. The aim of the Omega Kid Study was to investigate the effect of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation on SR and EF in typically developing preschool-aged children. A double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial was undertaken, the intervention was 12 weeks and consisted of 1.6 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day compared to placebo. The HS-Omega-3 Index® was assessed by capillary blood samples at baseline and post-intervention. Seventy-eight children were enrolled and randomised to either the n-3 LCPUFA treatment (n = 39) or placebo (n = 39) group. Post intervention, there was a significant three-fold increase in the HS-Omega-3 Index® in the n-3 LCPUFA group (p < 0.001). There were no improvements in SR or EF outcome variables for the n-3 LCPUFA group post intervention compared to the placebo group determined by linear mixed models. At baseline, there were significant modest positive Spearman correlations found between the HS-Omega-3 index® and both behavioural self-regulation and cognitive self-regulation (r = 0.287, p = 0.015 and r = 0.242, p = 0.015 respectively). Although no treatment effects were found in typically developing children, further research is required to target children with sub-optimal self-regulation who may benefit most from n-3 LCPUFA supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A. Roach
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; (L.A.R.); (A.L.J.)
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; (I.M.R.W.); (A.D.O.); (B.J.M.)
| | - Mitchell K. Byrne
- College of Health and Human Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-8-89467655
| | - Steven J. Howard
- School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
- Early Start, School of Education, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Stuart J. Johnstone
- Brain & Behaviour Research Institute, School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
| | - Marijka Batterham
- Statistical Consulting Centre, School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
| | - Ian M. R. Wright
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; (I.M.R.W.); (A.D.O.); (B.J.M.)
- Early Start, School of Education, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia
| | - Anthony D. Okely
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; (I.M.R.W.); (A.D.O.); (B.J.M.)
- Early Start, School of Health and Society, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Renate H. M. de Groot
- Conditions for Lifelong Learning, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, 6419 Heerlen, The Netherlands; (R.H.M.d.G.); (I.S.M.v.d.W.)
| | - Inge S. M. van der Wurff
- Conditions for Lifelong Learning, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, 6419 Heerlen, The Netherlands; (R.H.M.d.G.); (I.S.M.v.d.W.)
| | - Alison L. Jones
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; (L.A.R.); (A.L.J.)
- Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group, South Metropolitan Health Service, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Barbara J. Meyer
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; (I.M.R.W.); (A.D.O.); (B.J.M.)
- School of Medicine, Molecular Horizons, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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