DHA, AA and GLA – The formula for bright minds and bright eyes
Jun 2, 2016
Introduction
Why are some children more hyperactive than the others? Why can’t they perform as well as expected in their studies? They are not unintelligent but why are they slow in their learning and clumsy in their daily activities?
The answer lies in the fact that these children may be suffering from one or more of the following main learning disorders: dyslexia, dyspraxia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Children with learning disorders have been shown to have lower amounts of arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and gamma linolenic acid (GLA) in their blood plasma and red blood cell membranes. These fatty acids are essential in the formation and developmentof the nerve cells of the brain and retina, thus enhancing the efficient conduction of messages from one nerve cell to another.
DHA is found in the cell membranes throughout our body, however it is highly concentrated in our brains, eyes and nerves.The most rapid brain growth occurs during the first year of life, with the infant’s brain tripling in size bythe first birthday. Thus, adequate amounts of DHA-rich foods allow children’s brain and vision to develop to its full potential.
A study done on dyslexic children by Dr Alex Richardson, Oxford University found that fatty acid levels such as AA, DHA and GLA in the blood plasma and red blood cell membranes of dyslexics were much lower than non-dyslexic, and the greater the deficiency of LCPs, the more severe the reading, spelling, and memoryproblems.
Clinical trials using a product with patented mixture of high-DHA fish oil, AA, evening primrose oil (EPO), thyme oil and vitamin E in the Royal Berkshire Hospital Dyslexic Children Study, showed children made vast improvement in reading and overall learning ability.
Therefore, supplementing with a product rich in DHA and AA from DHA-rich fish oil and GLA from EPO, available in either capsule or liquid form is a natural help for children who are deficient to achieve optimal neural development (brain) and visual acuity (eye development).
Reference
Thomas A. (2008). The effect of a long chain omega-3&6 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplement on boys with behaviour and emotional problems at the Cotswold Community. SEN: The Journal for Special Needs; 36: 72-3.
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