A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted to assess the effects of DHA supplementation of healthy preschool children on their cognitive functions like listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.
175 healthy 4-year-old children
4 months
400-mg/d DHA (n=85) or matching placebo (n = 90) in capsules
Cognitive tests included the Leiter-R Test of Sustained Attention, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Day-Night Stroop Test, and Conners' Kiddie Continuous Performance Test. The relationship between DHA levels in blood from a subsample (n=93) with cognitive test scores was evaluated.
Mean capillary whole blood content of DHA in the DHA group increased by more than 300% (P < .0001), whereas placebo group remained low.
Regression analysis, yielded a statistically significant positive (P =0.018) association between the blood level of docosahexaenoic acid and higher scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, a test of listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.
There was supportive evidence and promising results for a significant relation between higher DHA levels in blood and improved scores on a test of listening comprehension and vocabulary in healthy preschool children.
Ryan AS, Nelson EB. Assessing the effect of docosahexaenoic acid on cognitive functions in healthy, preschool children: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2008;47(4):355-62.
