Recent studies have confirmed the necessity of Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) derived from fish for proper foetal and infant brain development and function.
Eating fish meant higher global intelligence scores
In addition, population studies have shown that regular dietary intake of these nutrients in middle-aged and older adults helps maintain or enhance brain function, resulting in lower risk of developing of mild cognitive impairment and dementia later in life.
However, until now, no studies have measured how fish consumption in early adolescent life relates to later cognitive performance in healthy adolescents.
A study by the Centre for Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Institute for Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, included 9,260 15-year-old boys from the Västra Götaland region in western Sweden.
They completed a questionnaire designed to determine details of their fish intake, disease and socioeconomic conditions. Fish consumption was categorised as more than once per week, once per week and less than once per week.
Other details that may have impacted results were also recorded, including parental education, type of dwelling, rural versus urban living, and body mass index (BMI).
At the age of 18, all boys were required to complete the Swedish military conscription examination, which included intelligence testing using 10 basic tests.
Results of these tests were compiled into three main scores, including the Global Intelligence Score, which combined results for all 10 tests, the Verbal Score, based on results from the verbal tests, and the Visuo-spatial Score, which included results from visuo-spatial/geometric tests.
These three scores were then associated with fish consumption, taking into consideration the impact of other details that may impact results.
Results showed that fish consumption at the age of 15 of more than once per week compared with less than once per week was associated with higher global intelligence scores, verbal performance, and visuo-spatial performance at the age of 18. This association was consistent regardless of the boy’s level of education.
This Swedish study adds to the growing body of information showing the benefits of fish derived omega-3 LC-PUFAs for brain function, and provides the missing link in the evidence to their necessity from infancy right through to old age.
In addition, its authors emphasised the significance of the findings relative to future success in life, since final grades in high school which would be enhanced by omega-3 LC-PUFA intake determine the subsequent educational career and profession.
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