Children´s Omega-3 and Cod Liver Oil Products

Winners Explained

SC Quality Benchmark for Omega-3 Products for Children The primary parameter of quality was judged to be the provision of 150mg per day EPA / DHA for children under 2 years and 450mg EPA / DHA to children above 2 years. The provision of vitamins is also considered desirable, but is only considered once the minimum level of 450mg of EPA/DHA per daily dose has been achieved.  Taste and palatability was also an important parameter in this category.

The critical role that Omega-3 fatty acids play in the development of the foetal and infant brain is now well understood and acknowledged. The importance of sufficiency of Omega-3s to the expectant mother during pregnancy and lactation is difficult to overstate.

Similarly, there is accumulating, though not yet conclusive, evidence that Omega-3s can be of significant benefit in improving cognitive function in children from approximately 5-16 years of age.

As much of this accumulating information has been well publicised, there has been considerable interest in the ways in which one can provide a child with adequate levels of Omega-3, as persuading children to eat oily fish can be somewhat challenging. The result has been a wave of new Omega-3 products targeted at children.

One of the most important criteria in this category is how acceptable the product is likely to be to the average child, as it is important to ensure at least medium term compliance for the supplementation to have a significant effect. Obviously, the task is not easy, because:

1. Large amounts of Omega-3s are required (over 450mg per day) in order to have a significant effect.
2. Young children will often not easily take to swallowing tablets and capsules.
3. Fish oil liquids are traditionally unpleasant to take due to the oily texture and fishy taste and smell.

Therefore, chewable capsules and palatable liquids have been developed to increase compliance in children. In all cases you may have to try a few different products as children’s tastes vary, but with the range of products available it should not be difficult to find a product that is both acceptable to the child and will deliver the intended benefits of increased Omega-3 intake.

Quality

Of the chewable capsule products reviewed, only 2 of the 12 chewable capsule products – TeenSense (Haliborange) and Brain Boosters (Healthspan) – delivered more than 450mg EPA / DHA at the recommended dosage levels. The TeenSense product also provides 100% RDA of Vitamins A, D and C. Other products that provided high levels of EPA / DHA and would perhaps benefits from higher than recommended dosage were those by Boots and Equazen.

Of the liquid products, all six reviewed are emulsified oils presented as creamy syrups, and all provide more than 450mg EPA / DHA at the recommended dosage. As such, all can be considered worthwhile, high quality products, with BrainWise Plus (VeryWise Nutrition) particularly noteworthy, as it provided the highest level of EPA / DHA in addition to 100% RDA of all essential vitamins.

Value

Of the chewable capsules reviewed, the value for money based upon the cost of 1000mg EPA / DHA varied between £0.50 and £1.66. Again, the Healthspan product stood out here.

Of the liquids, the cost per 1000mg EPA / DHA varied from £0.21 for the excellent Smart Omega-3 from Boots, to £1.32 for EyeQ Smooth. Most, however, still provided good value at about £0.60.