Any recommendations for fish oils to aid concentration please?

[Blewitt]

Hi all, My DS7 has had a really bad term at school, he is really not achieving well and although I am sure there are a mixture of reasons his teacher keeps coming back to his inability to concentrate for even the smallest amount of time. So having done some research I would like to try him on some fish oils. There are so many out there so thought Id ask for advice on what anyone else uses. I am so sad to see how things have changed for him, he was always mid to above average and is now "with the stupid group" (his words). I'm determined to get him back on track before he falls behind for good.

Do some more research. Try www.badscience.net the 'studies' that proved a link are pretty much debunked.
It is good to have oily fish in the diet though .
Dietary interventions that do help with concentration are: fewer simple sugars (an even blood sugar over the day helps)and avoiding E numbers wherever possible - some children are sensitive to them.

Thanks Donna, his diet is pretty good, there is so much anecdotal evidence I'm going to give the fish oils a go so if anyone can recommend a particular brand that would be great.

Blewitt, the anecdotal evidence is down to the placebo effect. I'd second the recommendation that you look at Ben Goldacre's Bad Science blog, or read his book. He goes into lots of detail on the fish oil 'trial' that was held at great expense, and with shockingly poor judgement and quality, by a Local authority in the North East.

Or, don't read it and buy the oils. But many would call that a tax on ignorance.

I found high strength fish oils to start really helping with my OWN concentration span after about three weeks of taking them, although when ive used them for my children, i havent noticed differences in behaviour. But then feelings and behaviour dont necessarily corellate I guess.

For a young child, youre limited as the chewable capsules are generally low dose and shit.

Eskimo kids fish oil is pretty good I think, but its the oil rather than capsules, but you can mix it in smoothies etc.