Who has noticed a difference after using fish oils?

[waitingforgodot]

Mamabell kindly sent me the EyeQ chews which DS loves! I want to buy more now I know he likes them but wanted your opinions and stories before I buy the 3 for 2 in Boots. Did you notice a difference after using them?

I have absolutely nothing scientific, but it's my feeling that they do my boy some good (asd, adhd). I've been giving him fish oil since he was 3, and I reckon it is good for him not least because he eats no oily fish (salmon, mackerel etc) and only the odd fish finger. I reckon it might make him ever so slightly calmer, and ever so slightly better at concentrating.

I do use them, but I have not really noticed a difference. I kind of keep doing it because wiser mums on this board have said they have an effect and also on the off chance he'd be worse if I didn't

I think they def help my DS, but couldnt prove it!!!

waitingforgodot, i also used fish oil for my hyperactive daughter. I read quite a lot about it, but the improvements were not easy to notice. Still she did manage to focus more over the time, was it just the growing up? (she had it for more than a year and a half) or was it the fish oil? I couldn't really tell the difference, but she is behaving better. Fish oil comes in many different varieties. Look at the content of EPA/DHA, those are basically the most important omega 3 fatty acids. Not all brands have the same concentration of those two. Also:

this is from wikipedia: "Some urge caution when taking cod liver oil and other fish-based supplements since they may contain elevated levels of toxins such as mercury and PCBs found in fish.[21] Some supplement companies regularly test cod liver oil for purity, while others do not. Consumerlab.com tested 44 fish and cod liver oil supplements and found that all were free of detectable levels of mercury."

there are many researches like this one on the www:

"Researchers are trying to find out if fish oil supplements, namely omega-3, will help special children who suffer from behavioral and learning difficulties.// The omega-3 contains a fatty acid EPA which serves to help the brain to transmit messages between the different cells. It has already been proved that it can contribute towards improving concentration, memory, mood, and behavior."

While i read many of these, we had a month ago a psychologue telling us that the fish oil will only help my daughter's skin get prettier, while a week later our ped recommended us extra omega 3 for DD.

I'm confused, but not so confused as to forget to buy a new bottle of fish oil today

my dd4 started talking after she started the eye-q liquid ! - she doesnt talk in sentences ,or ask for stuff, but she defo talks now.... she even names thing spontani spontinaousl without prompting now...and she can count to five now! .
we get eye contact , and her concentration is much much better.... if we stop giving it she plataues ,or regeresses a tiny bit(found out becaue i didnt get any for 3 months).i swear it does help.

drlove8, i checked their website and coudn't find a proper ingredients list. Do you have one at hand (from the package) that you can share with us? are there any flavours in it?

Have to say that I didn't notice any difference at all with fish oils for my ds. He's only been on them a couple of months though, but his behaviour is worse if anything, but I put that down to it being crappy weather and him not being able to play out as much. I'm sticking with them though in the hope that they will work at some point.

We noticed a small positive influence from fish oil supplements (eskimo kids). What is probably more convincing is that we notice if it gets forgotten for a several days in the morning rush ds gets more hyper and 'skittish'! (Ah thats what the trouble is - he has not had it much for the last few weeks - memo to self!)

Also ds dribbles chews and licks so his chin and face is prone to soreness and the supplements seem to protect a little and give his face a healthy bloom. ( another reason i should have realised he was not getting his oil - in my defence I have been ill!)

joburg ,Equazen Eyeq liquid , ingredients ......sunflower oil m hi-EPA fish oil, virgin evening primrose oil, flavorings (natural lemon oil), natural vitamin E(as D alpha-tocopherol acetate derived from IP- soya) .
website - here.
we get the citrus flavour one , as dd4 will take it mixed in orange juice !

leaflet thats wIth bottle says the fish oil thats used is from "wild sardines, harvested from unpolLuted southern oceans at certain times of year when epa levels are really high " and also " independently tested to ensure they comply with stringent WHO and EC purity rules. "
NUTRITION INFO - per 5ml teaspoon ....
FISH OIL (OMEGA-3) 736mg
of which:
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 186mg
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 58mg
Evening primrose oil(omega-6) 184mg
of which:
Gamma Linolenic Acid 20mg
Natural vitamin E 10.8mg= d-alpha tocopherol !

drlove8, the DHA/EPA sounds a bit too little but you are saying that it helps. I tried to find a recommended daily dose for children but every single website seems to list different doeses.
We use AquaMarine (also a UK brand) which lists 968 mg of EPA and 878 mg of DHA per 10 ml .... and they recommend 5 ml for DD (6yo), still much more than EyeQ. where is the truth and how much shall we give, big mistery

An article from dhaomega3.org confuses us more:

A Japanese study, choosing functional food sources of omega-3 fatty acid providing an average of 514 mg DHA plus 100 mg EPA per day over a two month period in children aged 6-12 yrs. with ADHD (not on medication) resulted in a significant reduction in aggression when compared to the control group. The effect of DHA/EPA-containing foods on hostility was more appreciated by parents than by teachers and the effect on physical aggression was more appreciated by teachers than by parents. The recently reported Oxford-Durham Study from the U.K. has had a major impact on consideration being given to the potential beneficial effects of increased intakes of DHA plus EPA on DCD/dyspraxia. In this randomized, controlled trial, 117 children (ages 5-12 yrs.) with DCD (developmental coordination disorder) were given a supplement providing 170 mg of DHA plus 558 mg of EPA for a 3 month period.