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Original poster

Fish oils

19 replies

cori · 23/02/2004 16:53

I want to try giving my son fish oils. I have just bought Eye Q after reading mumsnet recommendations. I dont know what the dose should be. The instructions say 3 teaspoons a day- for an adult i assume. What would be the recommended dose for a 2 year old?

OP posts:
bunny2 · 23/02/2004 20:32

Same I think. Check the bottle, I am sure it says this dose is good for children and adults. Ds, 3.5, has been having 3 spoons a day for a couple of months, I am looking forward to a big turnaround in his behaviour soon!

juniper68 · 23/02/2004 21:29

Good for you Cori for getting them. My mate is getting something called DHA from the doctor instead of drugs for his ADHD. I can only assume they're the same thing? I don't know if you'd be entitled to them with him being so young but other mums with older kids may be? I hope they work for your toddler as they've helped heaps with him.

robinw · 24/02/2004 06:57

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roisin · 24/02/2004 09:36

My kids have been taking EyeQ for a month now, and it's costing a fortune. Does anyone know what the difference is between:

Eye-Q capsules £7.99 for 60 (500mg capsules) - take 2 per day, (but 6 per day for first 12 wks)
These contain (per 2 capsules) 186mg EPA, 58mg DHA

Boots Super strength fish oil capsules £11.10 for 60 (1000mg capsules) - take 1 per day.
Contains EPA & DHA

ISO Omega 3 pure fish oil £4.25 for 60 (1000mg capsules) - take 1 per day.
Contains 180mg EPA, 120mg DHA
(with salmon oil)

Original poster
cori · 26/02/2004 21:13

have been giving him 3 teaspoons a day.
I am hoping it might help with his speech and concentration. I know he is only young, but there is know harm in trying. Also there is no way i could include the foods with the omega 3s in his diet sufficently as he refuses to eat meals most of the time, is very fussy.

OP posts:
robinw · 27/02/2004 07:05

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roisin · 27/02/2004 19:23

Robinw - there was a post on a thread on here somewhere recently about learning to take capsules by practicing with jelly bears! Sounds bizzarre, I know, but it worked for us. Have you tried it?

roisin · 27/02/2004 19:32

Can't find the thread though! I think there's limited search facility on here at the moment.

Basically someone (sorry I can't remember who) suggested cutting up a jelly bear into quarters for them to learn to swallow, then see if they can manage just a half. It took my boys (4 and 6) about 2 minutes, 3 jelly bears, to learn to swallow capsules and tablets. Fantastic tip whoever it was

maryz · 27/02/2004 20:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

roisin · 27/02/2004 20:39

BIG THANK YOU maryz, and sorry I couldn't remember your name. I have vivid memories of not being able to take tablets as a child. DSs haven't needed to take tablets, but having learned to manage capsules through your fantastic tip, I'm sure they could cope fine with tablets if/when they need them.

You should post it on the "tips" section of mumsnet.

robinw · 28/02/2004 11:08

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stace · 29/02/2004 19:46

sorry to divert you all a little but does anyone know if it is ok to take fish oils while pregnant as my midwives werent at all convincing when asked!

karen99 · 01/03/2004 08:38

Hi Stace, got this off the FSA website

"Women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant shouldn't take cod liver oil supplements, unless their GP advises them to do so. This is because cod liver oil contains high levels of vitamin A, like liver and liver products such as liver pâté. If a pregnant women has too much vitamin A, levels could build up in her body and may harm an unborn baby."

Most fish oils are coupled with VitA to aid absorbancy (I believe). I avoided supplements but up'd my intake of Omega3 fish (sardines, salmon, etc, except Tuna) in the 3rd trimester.

karen99 · 01/03/2004 08:39

It is here - FSA

stace · 01/03/2004 08:47

thanks for that Karen!!!

aloha · 01/03/2004 09:44

There are lots and lots of fish oil capsules which do not contain vitamin A. They are quite easy to find - just check the packaging, it will list the contents clearly.
I bought some capsules from a website - www.healthyandessential.com - which does stuff for kids and adults. For ds I simpy pierce the capsule and squeeze the contents into his milk. It's such a tiny amount and it is strawberry flavour anyway and he hasn't noticed any difference. I often add Actimel to his morning milk too. You only need the contents of one tiny capsule a day. And the oils are purified and screened. Expensive though. If i was pregnant I would definitely be taking fish oils now.

Jimjams · 01/03/2004 10:38

Most fish oils don't contain vitamin A (things like efalex or eyeQ). It's the fish liver oils that contain it. I've just had to search for a purified (no mercury) cod liver oil for my son as I want him to have vitamin A and it was a bit of a struggle to find (Nordic Naturals cod liver oil)

karen99 · 01/03/2004 11:42

Thanks! that's helped clear it up for me too!

Jimjams · 01/03/2004 12:19

BTW Efalex used to do a supplement for pregnant women called Efanatal. I couldn't find it in Boots last time I looked (ages ago) but it may still exist.

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