Fish oils help children keep their cool.

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How fish oils helped violent schoolchildren keep their cool By LAURA CLARK The case for giving fish oils to children has been boosted by a study which found the supplements helped youngsters with severe behavioural problems to control their anger. Results of a trial involving 28 boys found they had fewer violent outbursts while taking daily doses of the fatty acids. See also:Discover which fish oil brands are best for children here The ten to 16-year-olds were studying at Eaton Hall Special School in Norwich, which takes pupils with behavioural and emotional difficulties, including autism. In the six months prior to the trial, students had 112 angry outbursts which required teachers to physically restrain them. This dropped to 36 during the six-month study, when they were given 'Eye q'

supplements alongside healthier school meals. The capsules, made by Equazen, contain omega-3 fish oils and omega-6 evening primrose oil. The biggest impact was on pupils who had been involved in the most violent incidents. One youngster had to be restrained ten times prior to the trial but recorded no incidents while taking the capsules. The study suggests students become better able to control their anger, as teachers were less likely to have to intervene to calm them down. Its findings are certain to renew calls for free fish oil supplements to be given to schoolchildren. Ministers had commissioned the Food Standards Agency to review the evidence for medicating youngsters, but its experts found the benefits were unclear. However nutritionists have since written to the agency questioning the conclusions. Lianne Quantrill, project co-ordina-tor at Eaton Hall, said: 'These statistics suggest that as a result of the new health

programme and supplements, the children were able to control their anger better, so while outbursts still occurred, they were less extreme, requiring minimal physical intervention from a teacher.' Trials have suggested fish oils do not just benefit youngsters with behavioural problems. Dr Madeleine Portwood, an educational psychologist, was involved in a study in Durham which found the supplements significantly improved short-term memory among primary pupils and enhanced achievements in reading and spelling. A further study in the city showed toddlers with below-average communication skills could catch up in just months by taking essential fats. Dr Portman said parents who saw the positive results of supplements were inclined to improve their children's diets. Find this story at

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=413817 & in_page_id=1774©2006 Associated New Media After all, they (the pro-vaccine lobbyists) say to themselves, you can't make an omelette withoutbreaking eggs. But the eggs being broken are small, helpless, and innocent babies, while the omelette is being enjoyed by the pediatricians and vaccine manufacturers. - Harris L. Coulter, PhD

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