DHA Benefits and Side Effects for Children

DHA Benefits and Side Effects for Children Holistic Health Print DHA Benefits and Side Effects for Children By Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Caitilin Kelly, MD on November 26, 2019 Caitilin Kelly, MD, is a clinical physician at  Indiana University  Health Bloomington Hospital and is board-certified in internal medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Caitilin Kelly, MD Updated on February 03, 2020 Paul Bradbury / Getty Images More in Self-Improvement Holistic Health Happiness Meditation Stress Management Spirituality Inspiration Brain Health Technology Relationships View All In This Article Table of Contents Expand Uses Benefits Caveats Where to Find DHA View All Back To Top Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid used to improve brain and eye health in children. Found naturally in oily fish and some seaweed, DHA is also available in supplement form. Uses Since DHA is essential for neurological and visual development, DHA supplements are thought to enhance brain function and vision in children. In addition, DHA supplements are purported to treat certain health problems in children, such as allergies, asthma, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Benefits Heres a look at some key study findings on the benefits of DHA for children: ADHD   DHA deficiency may be common among children with ADHD, according to a report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2000. However, its not known whether DHA supplements can help treat ADHD in children. For instance, in a 2001 study from the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found that four months of DHA supplementation failed to decrease symptoms in a group of children with ADHD. The study involved 63 six- to 12-year-old children, each of whom received 345 milligrams (mg) of DHA or a placebo daily. An article published in the journal Lipids in 2017 reviewed 16 randomized controlled trials. Thirteen studies reported favorable benefits in ADHA symptoms including in hyperactivity, impulsivity, attention, visual learning, word reading, and working/short term memory. More studies are needed looking at the effectiveness of DHA in this area and it is too soon to routinely recommend DHA supplements as an adjunctive therapy to possibly lower the amount of standard medication needed. Brain Health   So far, research on DHAs effects on cognitive function in children has yielded mixed results. For example, a 2009 study of 90 healthy children ages 10 to 12 (published in Nutritional Neuroscience) found that eight weeks of DHA supplementation did not have a beneficial effect on brain function. On the other hand, a 2008 study of 175 healthy four-year-old children (published in Clinical Pediatrics) found that higher blood levels of DHA were linked to higher scores on vocabulary tests. However, this study did not specifically test the use of DHA supplements (and its potential to improve test scores). Therefore, DHAs effectiveness in improving cognitive function in children remains unclear. Caveats Taking DHA in the form of fish oil may cause certain side effects, such as bad breath, heartburn, and nausea.  It is also a blood thinner. Its important to keep in mind that many supplements havent been tested for safety and dietary supplements are largely unregulated. In some cases,  the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each nutrient or herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances such as heavy metals.  Also, the safety of supplements in  pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. Before giving your child DHA supplements, consult their pediatrician to determine a safe dosage. Where to Find DHA Widely available for purchase online, DHA supplements for children are sold in many natural-food stores, grocery stores, and stores specializing in dietary supplements. DHA supplements are often available in a flavored gummy form to make the supplements palatable for children. A Word From Verywell Due to the lack of research, its too soon to recommend DHA as a treatment for any condition in children.  Its possible to achieve ample DHA intake by eating oily fish (such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, and sardines) several times a week. Talk to your pediatrician about whether you should increase the amount of oily fish or should  consider giving them DHA supplements. Your pediatrician can also help you to determine a safe and effective dosage for DHA supplements. Its important to note that treating a chronic condition with DHA and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences for your childrens health.