Effects of Omega-3 for children’s health: an integrative literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34119/bjhrv7n3-243Keywords:
fatty acids, health, nutrition, pediatricsAbstract
Background: Omega-3 is a set of essential fatty acids, related to brain development and is beneficial to adult health. It is necessary to understand whether the benefits of these fatty acids extend to children because they have low omega-3 consumption, not reaching the daily recommendations established by public health dietary guidelines. The knowledge about the benefits of omega-3 for children can help to identify the necessity to increase the consumption of omega-3 by this population, encouraging the promotion of dietary interventions for child health. This integrative review aimed to gather the main scientific findings that describe the benefits of omega-3 consumption by preschool and school-age children. Methods: The terms: “Fatty Acids, Omega-3, AND Child” were investigated in four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Virtual Health Library. Subsequently, the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Results: 53 scientific articles that responded to this investigation were selected. They reported several benefits from omega-3 to children's physical, mental, and cognitive health. Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of omega-3 for this age group's health and development, encouraging adequate consumption.
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