The Growth-promoting Effect of Omega-3 on Children: a Systematic Literature Review

Introduction

Poor growth and development can have long-term adverse health impacts, including increased birth defects, impaired cognitive function, and low academic achievement. Essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), offer various health benefits. However, the impact of omega-3 on children’s growth is under-researched, with studies typically focusing on single domains like cognitive development. This study aims to review the growth-promoting benefits of omega-3 on children across multiple growth domains.

Materials and methods

Following PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023417580), three databases—PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library—were searched for relevant articles from 2018 to 2022. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized trials (RoB2) was used to assess bias risk, and Mendeley was used to manage and deduplicate articles.

Results

Seven randomized clinical trials (RCTs) from 2018 to 2020 were reviewed. Only one study found a significant positive impact of omega-3 on children’s cognitive development, while five studies did not. One study explored neurodevelopment, and two RCTs from the UK and Spain examined behavioral outcomes. A study from Indonesia assessed physical growth.

Conclusion

Overall, omega-3 fatty acids did not show a significant impact on early childhood development. Omega-3 supplements may enhance behavioral development and physical growth in children but do not significantly affect cognitive or neurodevelopment.