SOURCE: MPR
October 8, 2014
October 8, 2014
MPR Take
It has been suggested in previous research that omega-3 supplementation can reduce antisocial behavior in children, but short treatment duration and a lack of post-treatment follow-up have been significant study limitations. Published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, a new double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomly assigned 200 children ages 8–16 to a daily 200mL beverage containing 1000mg of omega-3 or the beverage sans omega-3 supplementation for six months.
Children taking the omega-3-supplemented beverage had a reported 41.6% reduction in parent-rated child externalizing behavior and 68.4% reduction in internalizing behavior after six months. The parents of children in the omega-3 group also had significant observed reductions in parental psychopathy and reactive aggression, which accounted for 60.9% of the improvement in child antisocial behavior.
No previous omega-3 studies have tested this reciprocal effect, whereby improving child behavior, improved parent behavior, which further improved child behavior. The exact mechanism by which omega-3 improves behavior in children is unknown however the long-chain fatty acid does play a critical role in brain structure and function.
These findings support longer-term post-treatment efficacy of omega-3 in reducing child and adolescent externalizing and internalizing behavior, as well as reducing antisocial behavior in caregivers.
It has been suggested in previous research that omega-3 supplementation can reduce antisocial behavior in children, but short treatment duration and a lack of post-treatment follow-up have been significant study limitations. Published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, a new double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomly assigned 200 children ages 8–16 to a daily 200mL beverage containing 1000mg of omega-3 or the beverage sans omega-3 supplementation for six months.
Children taking the omega-3-supplemented beverage had a reported 41.6% reduction in parent-rated child externalizing behavior and 68.4% reduction in internalizing behavior after six months. The parents of children in the omega-3 group also had significant observed reductions in parental psychopathy and reactive aggression, which accounted for 60.9% of the improvement in child antisocial behavior.
No previous omega-3 studies have tested this reciprocal effect, whereby improving child behavior, improved parent behavior, which further improved child behavior. The exact mechanism by which omega-3 improves behavior in children is unknown however the long-chain fatty acid does play a critical role in brain structure and function.
These findings support longer-term post-treatment efficacy of omega-3 in reducing child and adolescent externalizing and internalizing behavior, as well as reducing antisocial behavior in caregivers.
Background
While limited evidence suggests that omega-3 supplementation may reduce antisocial behavior in children, studies have not reported on posttreatment follow-up and most treatment periods have been of short duration. This study tests the hypothesis that omega-3 supplementation over 6 months will reduce behavior problems in children both at the end of treatment and at 6 months post treatment.
Methods
In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, stratified, parallel-group trial, a community sample of 8–16 year old children were randomized into a treatment group (N = 100) and a placebo-control group (N = 100). The supplementation consisted of a fruit drink containing 1 g/day of omega-3 or a placebo consisting of the same fruit drink without omega-3. Participants, caregivers, and research assistants were blinded to group assignment. The primary outcome measures of externalizing and internalizing behavior problems were reported by both caregivers and their children in a laboratory setting at 0 months (baseline), 6 months (end of treatment) and 12 months (6 months post treatment), together with the secondary outcome measures of parental antisocial behavior. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis including all participants. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02016079?term=mauritius&rank=2
Results
Significant group × time interactions were observed with the treatment group showing long-term improvements in child behavior problems. The average posttreatment effect size was d = −.59. Effects were documented for parent reports, but with the exception of proactive and reactive aggression, child-report data were nonsignificant. Parents whose children took omega-3 showed significant posttreatment reductions in their own antisocial and aggressive behavior. This improvement in caregiver behavior partly mediated the improvements observed in child behavior.
Conclusions
Findings provide initial evidence that omega-3 supplementation can produce sustained reductions in externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. Results are the first to report improvements in caregiver behavior, and to establish this improvement as a part-mechanism for the efficacy of omega-3.
Raine, A., Portnoy, J., Liu, J., Mahoomed, T. and Hibbeln, J. R. (2014), Reduction in behavior problems with omega-3 supplementation in children aged 8–16 years: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, stratified, parallel-group trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12314
