Dr Ruxton
Fewer than one in 10 children in the UK are eating enough fish to meet health guidelines and worse still, a staggering 87% of youngsters do not eat oily fish, according to new study data just out.
The results are especially worrying because of fresh evidence linking a key ingredient found in fish and fish oil supplements - omega-3 - with a significant boost to mental and physical health in unborn babies as well as infants and children.
In the latest research , commissioned Haliborange, makers of a range of Omega-3 supplements for babies, toddlers, children and teenagers, more than 1,000 parents of children aged from under one to 16 from across the UK were quizzed about their youngsters’ diets. The study paints a startling picture of children’s fish eating habits across the nation.
In addition, a separate academic research study has found that omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) are vital for a baby’s development in the womb as well as necessary for supporting the development of the brain, eyes and immune system in infants.
The research also found evidence linking omega-3 EFA with behavioural, cognitive and attentiveness benefits in older, school-age children.
Omega-3 essential fatty acids are found in fish - especially in oily fish such as mackerel, sardines, trout, herring and salmon, with lower amounts in white fish such as cod and haddock.
Children’s fish eating habits
A national study revealed that a staggering quarter (27%) of parents admitted that their children ate fish less than once a month or never at all. Just four out of 10 (39%) parents said their children ate fish only once a week, while a quarter (24%) of parents admitted to the fact that their children ate fish just once or twice a month.
In fact in the same study fewer than one in 10 children (9%) had fish two or more times a week - the level recommended by the UK Food Standards Agency.
The main reasons why children don’t like fish is all down to flavour (40%), the smell (27%), the texture (23%), the bones (23%) and because fish is 'too slimy' (14%).
Nearly two thirds (62%) of all parents said their children would refuse to eat any fish with bones in. Only one in 10 (12.3%) children would eat fish if it was served with the head still on, and a similar number (11%) would eat fish if it still had the scales on.
When it comes to the types of fish that children will eat, the most popular was fish fingers (67%), followed by other white fish such as cod or haddock (54%), tinned tuna (51%) and fresh salmon (33%).
Two out of 10 parents (19%) said their children wouldn’t eat any fish other than fish fingers. Worse still, a staggering 87% of youngsters do not eat oily fish such as mackerel, sardines, trout or herring – all rich sources of Omega-3 EFA.
New omega-3 study findings
In a separate academic research study, registered dietician and registered public health nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton studied data from 75 previous scientific papers and documents examining the link between omega-3 EFA and child health.
Dr Ruxton found that there was significant and consistent evidence that omega-3 EFA, also called long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (or n3LCPUFA), are crucial for proper baby, infant and child development.
In addition, she also raised questions about the inadequate fish intakes by UK children, particularly oily fish (rich in omega-3 EFA). Dr Ruxton noted that children in the UK consume very small proportions of oily fish, between 12% and 15%. compared to the 50% recommended by the Food Standards Agency.
Her research found that good Omega-3 EFA levels:
- Are crucial to the development and maintenance of the brain in unborn children, thought to be because they create fluidity in neuronal membranes.
- In pregnant women can reduce the risk of food allergies and eczema in infants, as well as well as improve hand-eye coordination, mental ability and language development.
- Have an important role to play in vision with research showing that they support the normal functioning of photoreceptor cells.
- Are needed for healthy mental functioning
- Help the immune system thanks to an ability to help modulate and control the inflammatory and allergic response.
- Could help older children with behavioural issues such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD), with improvements in reading, spelling and behaviour in children with dyspraxia given omega-3 EFA.
- Might help older children with better immune function, verbal learning, memory, comprehension, attentiveness, language development, vocabulary, comprehension and behaviour.
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