It is recommended that children eat 2 portions of fish a week, 1 of which should be oily. Oily fish such as fresh or tinned salmon, mackerel, pilchards and sardines are a good source of omega 3 fatty acids. Fresh tuna is also an oily fish; however, tinned tuna is not as the oils are removed during the canning process. Some research has shown that omega 3 fatty acids can be beneficial for children with problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, while other studies have found no significant effect. More research is therefore needed to show whether these effects are greater than those achieved by eating a healthy balanced diet containing fish as recommended for the general population. If choosing omega 3 supplements, choose fish body oil rather than liver oil supplements.
