Summary: Researchers are conducting an online study to evaluate whether omega-3 supplements can improve children’s behaviour, mood and mental wellbeing. The trial responds to evidence that most children in the UK consume less than half the recommended amount of omega-3 fats and aims to test whether supplementation can address dietary shortfalls and support cognitive and emotional health.
This study focuses on children aged 6–12 and uses parent-completed questionnaires to measure changes in behaviour, mood, sleep and related areas over a three-month supplementation period. The results could help inform school and healthcare strategies by identifying which children are most likely to benefit from increased omega-3 intake.
Key Facts:
- Dietary concern: Many UK children consume far less omega-3 than recommended. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for brain development and function, and the body cannot reliably produce them, so they must be obtained from the diet or supplements.
- Study design: The trial is conducted entirely online. Eligible children aged 6–12 will receive a three-month supply of easy-to-swallow omega-3 supplements delivered by post and will be assessed before and after supplementation.
- Potential impact: Earlier trials indicate that increasing omega-3 intake can benefit some children with mood, behaviour and learning difficulties, including those with symptoms associated with ADHD or autism. This study aims to clarify which children gain the most benefit and how best to identify them.
Source: Swansea University
Swansea University researchers are leading a pioneering trial to investigate how omega-3 supplements may influence children’s behaviour, mood and mental wellbeing, with potential implications for both health and education policy.
Omega-3 fatty acids—commonly found in oily fish and seafood—play a key role in brain development and cognitive function in childhood. Because the body cannot reliably synthesise sufficient omega-3s, children need an adequate dietary supply. Concerns about low intake have prompted this focused investigation.
A research team from the School of Psychology at Swansea University has been awarded an £81,000 grant to run the trial. The project is independently funded by The Waterloo Foundation and carried out in collaboration with Food and Behaviour (FAB) Research, a UK charity that supports scientific study into the links between nutrition and human behaviour.
The trial seeks children aged 6–12 who live on the mainland United Kingdom. Participation is designed to be convenient and accessible: families can complete the study remotely, and the research team will post a three-month supply of supplements that are easy for children to swallow.
Before starting the supplements and again after the three-month period, parents or guardians will complete questionnaires about their child’s behaviour, mood and sleep. These standardised assessments will help the team track any changes and better understand who benefits from additional omega-3 intake.
Dr Hayley Young, Principal Investigator, explained: “Dietary omega-3 deficiencies have become common among UK children despite the importance of these nutrients for mental and physical wellbeing. We already have evidence linking low omega-3 status to a range of behaviour, mood and learning difficulties in children.
“Previous trials indicate that increasing omega-3 intake can help at least some children, regardless of whether they meet diagnostic criteria for conditions such as ADHD or autism. This new trial will help determine which children are most likely to benefit and how to recognise them in everyday clinical and educational settings.”
Dr Alex Richardson, FAB Partner and Co-Investigator, added: “FAB Research and Swansea University’s School of Psychology both have extensive experience in this field, so we are pleased to be working together on this important study. We know many parents, teachers and health professionals are seeking effective, evidence-based ways to support children’s mental health and learning, and this trial may provide helpful guidance.”
Parents who wish to enrol their children in the study or request more information are encouraged to contact the research team directly through Swansea University’s research participant services or via the contact details provided below.
About this neurodevelopment and supplementation research news
Author: Ffion White
Source: Swansea University
Contact: Ffion White – Swansea University
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