Article: DHA effects in Brain Development and Function
Authors: Lotte Lauritzen, Paolo Brambilla, Alessandra Mazzocchi, Laurine B. S. Harslof, Valentina Ciappolino, and Carlo Agostoni
Source: MDPI Nutrients
Date: 4 January 2016
Link: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/1/6/htm
Summary:
The brain accumulates DHA the most following the two years after a child is born, after this period, DHA accretion continues into childhood, but at a much slower rate. Afterwords, the level of DHA is maintained. A study found that children who were supplemented with LC-PUFA formulas after being born or after breastfeeding, scored higher on problem solving tests. This effect is greatly enhanced by the region in which the child is being supplemented. In low-income countries, children that take fish oil supplements are shown to benefit more from supplementation than children in high-income countries. Another effect that DHA supplementation had on children is that they were in more control of there mood. In a study with 450 children, 8-10 year old children were supplemented with fish oil and were shown to have a reduction in impulsivity in anti-social behavior.
Interestingly, a study of 4000 American children has shown that cognitive performance increase was stronger in girls than in boys, it could be possible that the different anatomy of boys and girls could contribute to this. Another gender related effect is related to the arterial blood pressure after omega-3 supplementation. Boys who had fish oil supplementation had reduced blood pressure, while the girls were unaffected.
In a study with patients ranging greater than 65 years old, those complaining of mild memory loss showed an improvement in memory after being supplemented 0.9 g/day of DHA for 24 weeks. In a study with rats, rats were given a high dietary intake of DHA, which caused an increase in DHA levels in the hippocampus. The mice were shown to have improvement of memory performances. Studies have shown that people with schizophrenia have been shown to be effective in mediated the symptoms of DHA. It is thought that the supplementation of DHA may help to repair the damage caused by oxidative stress.
The cognitive performance increase from DHA was more significant in girls than it was in boys
ReplyDeleteIn what way does DHA help repair the damage caused by oxidative stress?
In a study of 4000 children, girls supplemented with DHA had higher cognitive performance levels than boys.
ReplyDeleteWhat biologically causes that?
There are impacts on brain development caused by socio-economic status and gender because low income families are often exposed to smoking or other bad things. Gender affects the impacts of omega-3's because girls had increased cognitive function and boys had reduced blood pressure.
ReplyDeleteWhy is DHA the only element supplemented and is this more beneficial than omega-3s (if so, is it more expensive)?
Upon taking Omega-3, girls' blood pressure stays the same while boys' increases.
ReplyDeleteAny clue about the difference in anatomy that causes the difference is in boys and girls?
The affect of omega-3's on girls brains was higher than that on boys brain.
ReplyDeleteThe difference in effect on the boys and girls brain was connected to brain anatomy. How is the brain anatomy different between boys and girls if both are capable of the same thought processes?
Children given LC-PUFA supplementation showed higher results when being tested in problem solving tests.
ReplyDeleteWhat is DHA doing that is helping these patients improve their memory or cognitive performance?
Those with socioeconomic hardships showed a greater increase in cognitive function after supplementation than those without hardships. And females showed an increase in cognitive function than boys.
ReplyDeleteCan we look into the difference effects of omega-3s in girls versus boys? More on a molecular level.
The largest absorption of omega-3 fatty acids into the brain occurs within the first two years of a child's life.
ReplyDeleteIs it only DHA that has an effect on improving the cognitive performance of patients greater than 85 years of age, or do EPA and ALA have effects too
When conducting these studies on the effects of DHA on cognitive development, socioeconomic status may play a role.
ReplyDeleteCould we review how DHA prevents oxidative stress damage?