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F(r)ische fürs Gehirn

Eine Pilotstudie zur Wirkung von Omega-3-Fettsäuren auf kognitive, emotionale und soziale Verhaltensparameter bei Kindergartenkindern

Published Online:March 03, 2015https://doi.org/10.1026/0942-5403/a000164

Abstract

Metaanalysen zeigen, dass die Verabreichung von Omega-3-Fettsäuren zu einer geringfügigen Reduktion der Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätssymptomatik bei Kindern führt. Für eine positive Wirkung von Omega-3 auf emotionale und kognitive Funktionen bei gesunden Kindern gibt es bisher kaum Belege. Im Rahmen dieser Studie wurde die Wirksamkeit einer Nahrungsergänzung bei 70 Kindergartenkindern im Alter von drei bis sechs Jahren überprüft. Die kognitive Leistungsfähigkeit der Kinder (z. B. das Gedächtnis) wurde getestet und das Verhalten (z. B. Hyperaktivität, Ängstlichkeit) wurde durch Eltern sowie Kindergartenpädagoginnen eingestuft. Die Kinder wurden zufällig einer Therapie- oder Wartelistengruppe zugeteilt. Die Therapiegruppe erhielt acht Wochen lang täglich 800 mg Omega-3. Danach wurde die psychologische Testung wiederholt. Die Wartegruppe erhielt das Präparat nach der zweiten Testung. Aufgrund der Nahrungsergänzung mit Omega-3 zeigte sich eine Verbesserung kognitiver Funktionen (Gedächtnis, räumliches Denken), während das sozio-emotionale Verhalten unverändert blieb. In zukünftigen Studien sollten die Effekte an größeren Stichproben, sowie mittels neurobiologischer Parameter untermauert werden.


Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Behavioral Parameters in Kindergarten Children: A Pilot Study

Meta-analyses demonstrate that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids leads to a small reduction of attention deficit hyperactivity symptoms in children. However, there are only few reports on the positive effects of omega-3 supplementation on affective and cognitive functions in healthy children. In this investigation, the effectiveness of supplementation was studied in a group of 70 kindergarten children aged 3 – 6 years. The children’s cognitive performance (e. g., memory) was tested and their parents and kindergarten teachers rated social and emotional parameters (e. g., hyperactivity, anxiety). Children were randomly assigned to either a therapy or a waiting-list group. The therapy group received a daily dose of 800 mg omega-3 for 8 weeks. The diagnostic session was then repeated. The waiting-list group received the supplement after the second testing. Supplementation with omega-3 resulted in enhanced cognitive performance (memory, spatial sense), whereas socioemotional parameters remained unchanged. Future investigations should analyze the effects in bigger samples and assess neurobiological parameters.

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