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Study shows that children may not be getting important fatty acids in diet |
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 Study shows that Children are Deficient in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Source: Canadian Press Date: 3/24/09
Canadian children may not be getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diets, researchers at the University of Guelph have found.
Their
study, published in the March issue of The Journal of Nutrition, is the
first to directly measure the dietary intake of fatty acids in a small
sampling of young children, says Bruce Holub, professor emeritus in the
department of human health and nutritional sciences. He is co-author of
the study with graduate students Sarah Madden and Colin Garrioch.
"This
the first rigorously obtained evidence demonstrating that the diets of
Canadian children are deficient in these vitally important nutrients,"
Holub says.
The research analyzed the diets of 41 children between the ages of four and eight over a three-year period.
With
help from parents who provided food samples identical to what they were
feeding their children, the researchers analyzed the meals in the lab
and collected data from a typical weekday and weekend.
The
study found only 22 per cent of the children received the suggested
amount of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. These nutrients,
commonly found in fish, play a key role in child development,
particularly in the growth of the brain and other nervous tissues.
That's why infant formula has been supplemented with DHA for several
years.
In
contrast, the study found 61 per cent of the children were receiving
enough of another important fatty acid, ALA, which is more widely
available in canola, soybean and flaxseed oils, walnuts and processed
foods.
Holub
says the research shows direct measurement, while time consuming and
costly, provides the most accurate tool for measuring dietary intake of
fatty acids. Previous studies used indirect methods that relied on
memory recall and "guesstimates" of food intake that were of limited
value.
"Our
work shows the need to create more awareness of the importance of these
nutrients in human health and that there is a gap between actual and
recommended intakes," says Holub.
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