fiona
Full Member
Posts: 46
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Post by fiona on Jul 25, 2006 1:05:23 GMT -5
thia is what i read Generally Recommended Amounts for Children
Oxford University’s Dr. Alexandra Richardson has written quite a bit on the benefits of fatty acid supplementation for children, especially those suffering from dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrom and autism. On November 7, 2003 at the 6th Nutrition and Health Conference in Brussels, Belgium, she presented her current dosage recommendations:
Decisive Characteristic Recommended Amount Dyslexia and Dyspraxia 500 mg EPA/day ADHD 1,000 (1g) EPA/day Current research uses supplements with an EPA/DHA ratio of at least 7/1. The importance of a combined omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid supplementation cannot currently be precluded. The addition of a daily dose of 50-100 mg GLA is a further option, especially if the patients are also suffering from eczema. The Belgian Health Council advises taking 0.4 mg a-tocopherol equivalents (aTE - vitamin E) per gram PUFA to minimise peroxidation. Good fish oil supplements already contain vitamin E. Fish liver supplements are not suitable because they are rich in vitamin A. To obtain high doses of EPA from fish liver supplements, you would be simultaneously consuming high doses of vitamin A.
For a more thorough overview, please see Useful applications of Omega-3 fatty acids, part 2: behavioral problems, learning difficulties, immunomodulation by Dr. Apr. Geert Vergote.
Note: Your child does not have to be considered dyslexic, dyspraxic, etc. to benefit from fatty acid supplementation. The Middlesbrough Trial has already demonstrated that high-EPA supplementation benefits kids of all abilities. (I can definitely say they have been of great benefit to my two sons.)
If you are considering supplementing your children with high-EPA and they do not present with any specific behavioral or learning condition, between 250 mg - 500 mg of EPA should suffice. Explains educational psychologist and lead researcher Dr. Madeleine Portwood on a recently televised BBC documentary:
To determine omega-3 content, simply take the amount of EPA or EPA plus DHA per serving, as listed on the label, and divide it by the serving size to determine how much omega-3 is in each capsule. That’s not understood well by many people. It is important that people read labels carefully. They get fooled.
The FDA requires that supplement manufacturers list the ingredients or nutrients by serving size. But the company can put in any serving size they want, so it may look like there is a lot of EPA, for example, in a product, but the serving size may be 10 capsules. Consumers should be sure to divide whatever value is in the column for the amount of EPA by the number of capsules in a serving, and read labels carefully.”
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Post by catatonic on Jul 25, 2006 9:09:34 GMT -5
Hi Fiona -- If each of your capsules contains 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA, then you are giving her a total of 480mg DHA and 720mg EPA each day, and total Omega-3 consumption of 1,200mg. This is just perfect...exactly what current research recommends.
As newer research emerges, these recommendations may evolve so that you'll want to increase the EPA...but it's too soon to worry about that unless you're dealing with a mood disorder like bipolar.
As for your Vitamin E -- again, it's perfect.
Great job.
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Post by bigsue on Sept 11, 2006 1:49:12 GMT -5
Hi Cat , I have changed my boys from children's Eskimo kids to the adult version which has per 5 ml vit. E 14 mg (20 iu), EPA 750 mg and DHA 500 mg. One boy has been diagnosed with ADD inattentive and the other is fine. Is this ok or should I increase for my ADD boy? many thanks for your kind help. susan
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Post by catatonic on Sept 11, 2006 7:29:45 GMT -5
That should be fine for both boys. It's perfectly compatible with the amounts used in clinical research that has found Omega-3 effective in improving ADHD symptoms.
If that's their only source of supplemental Vitamin E, it's too low. They need to get at least 100iu, preferably 200iu each day. The Vitamin E helps metabolize and transport the fish oil and prevent oxidative damage. Vitamin E is cheap, easy to find, and the capsules are small, so it shouldn't be a big deal to add a little bit.
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Post by bigsue on Sept 11, 2006 9:31:07 GMT -5
many thanks again. My boys aren't good at swallowing pills, any suggestions? TIA
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Post by catatonic on Sept 11, 2006 10:04:19 GMT -5
Well, they could bite the capsule and swallow the oil, spitting back out the encapsulation. Vitamin E doesn't taste bad, but the oil is quite thick. You can also buy it as a liquid in an olive oil suspension, and you'd need to take about 5 drops a day to equal 200iu. (Some are less concentrated and require 15 drops.) www.iherb.com/store/ProductDetails.aspx?c=Herbs&pid=NOW-00920
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Post by bigsue on Sept 12, 2006 7:46:31 GMT -5
many thanks cat, i will try to find the drops as we tried to take the pills this morning and they couldn't do it. cheers.
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Post by Mayleng on Sept 16, 2006 9:32:42 GMT -5
That is wonderful momof1999. Thanks for letting us know.
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Post by joemegmom on Oct 9, 2006 13:17:16 GMT -5
Cat, Do you know why coromega is only recommended for individuals ages 4 and up? I have a 2 year old little girl who is about 27 pounds and I would like to have some omega 3's added to her diet. Any suggestions? Also, What is stevia leaf extract? The package of coromega states the Epa is 350 and the dha is 230.
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Post by catatonic on Oct 9, 2006 21:54:59 GMT -5
Probably because it hasn't been specifically studied in that age group. There's no reason not to give it to her...in fact, with her brain developing so rapidly, it's one of the most important times to make sure you're providing enough Omega-3. Infant formulas are beginning to include DHA now. One packet is just right for a 2yo, so I'd go ahead and give it to her.
Stevia is a natural sugar substitute, far more concentrated in sweetness than is sugar. It's made from the leaves of the stevia plant.
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Post by sherricp on Oct 11, 2006 12:48:13 GMT -5
Do you have a favorite variety of flavored softgels? My kids like the Nordic Naturals strawberry ones, but it takes 4 to get 125 mg DHA, so I would need about 12 a day? No, that's only 375, geesh!
I also have Learning Factors, which is 65 mg per softgel. I've been supplementing for awhile, with apparently way too low a dose. It was expensive enough that way.
After dinner, DS takes mineral oil for constipation, so I'm not sure how that affects absorption of fish oil. I should probably try to get all the doses in at earlier meals.
I've decided I want to make sure I'm doing EFA's "right" before supplementing with Magnesium.
Sherri
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Post by joemegmom on Oct 11, 2006 13:55:48 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Cat. I started her today on the coromega:)
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Post by baysmommy on Nov 15, 2006 22:15:34 GMT -5
A dumb question, but a question nonetheless.....my friend gave me a bottle of Fish oil Omega's and 2 capsules contain 1440 EPA/960 DHA, is that too much? DD is 9......
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Post by catatonic on Nov 16, 2006 11:39:22 GMT -5
TWO capsules contain that much?? They must be enormous! At any rate, it's about twice what you want to give him. One capsule would be perfect.
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Post by baysmommy on Nov 17, 2006 22:06:39 GMT -5
I thought so, and YES, they are HUGE. But dd chews them( Blech)
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Post by mariedown on Dec 1, 2006 23:42:46 GMT -5
hello, I am new to this board but I want to thank you for such wealth and knowledge. my 9 year old daughter was recently diagnosed w/dyslexia and possibly add. she also has eczema from pollen allergies. I want to start her on omega 3 supplements and any other supplements that might be helpful. She cannot swallow pills so needs chewables or something to mix into orange juice. Any idea where to start? I know nothing about supplements but want to learn. I need to know how much to give her, when, where do I get it, does it taste bad, any side effects to watch for, what time of the day is better, etc. etc. Also, any other supplements that might be good for dyslexic/add??? thanks so much
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Post by catatonic on Dec 2, 2006 9:30:36 GMT -5
Welcome! A good place to start might be with Laura Stevens' book "12 Effective Ways to Help Your ADD/ADHD Child". You can get it on her website: users.nlci.com/nutrition/You also might want to take a look at some of the threads that are thumbtacked to the top of this section...ones like "How To Get Started". In general, the supplements you want to start first and never stop are Omega-3, magnesium, and a good multi-vitamin. I know Floradix has a line of liquid vitamins that you can get from iherb.com. That might be an easy way for you to start. You might also want to look at the Feingold diet (www.feingold.org). Reducing the toxin load on the body through dietary changes is often very helpful for allergy problems. I know that it has helped my asthmatic son (and me) very much.
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Post by mamaof2 on Dec 12, 2006 21:17:24 GMT -5
I'm wondering if Twinlab is a good name for omega-3? I am considering giving my son 2 pills (1200 EPA, 480 DHA) of the Megatwin EPA. I know the recommended dosage is 720 EPA and 480 DHA. Can the extra EPA have any side effects? Thanks for your input!
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Post by catatonic on Dec 13, 2006 11:43:53 GMT -5
The extra is fine. You can take enormous doses of fish oil without worrying about side effects. The main one to watch for is that it functions as a mild anticoagulant, so make sure that you stop taking fish oil 2 weeks prior to any elective surgery. You may notice that small cuts bleed a little more freely. It shouldn't be a big deal. If it is, lower the dose. Twinlab is a good brand, they subject their products to independent testing and certify their fish oil free of pcb's and heavy metals.
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Post by sarahsmom1 on Mar 15, 2007 8:53:30 GMT -5
Hi I've been giving my daughter Natural factors Omega's 400 mg dha and 200 mg dha for about a month and a half. SHe's getting 2 of these a day. Is it enough? I havent notice any difference yet and wondered if I should give her more? She was on Risperdal and I didnt think it was doing enough for her to continue it. She dosnt seem different at school and havent been moody there. ALthough at home she's moody. She wants to do what she wants and if not she has outbursts esp with homework which frustrates her. She isn't agressive she just whines and screams a little. Its annoying as she is 9 and dosnt behave her age. SHe is adhd but the hyperness she has outgrown a bit, although think the respidal was helping there a little. We had gone different stimulents and all had more negative effects then helping with anything. THanks for any thoughts. Lisa
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Post by catatonic on Mar 15, 2007 9:26:27 GMT -5
Hi Lisa, You could certainly try giving your daughter 3 capsules for the next six weeks. If she's deficient in Omega3, it can take some time to correct, but once you've done that, it's often possible to get by with a lower maintenance dose.
My 12yo son has similar tendencies...generally if he doesn't get his way about something. It get really OLD!! Two things have helped a great deal with his moodiness and outbursts. The first is elimination of all corn syrup from his diet. It made a miraculous change in him. VERY difficult to do, but the results have been well worth it. Unless he gets hold of something with corn syrup in it, he is free of tantrums, angry outbursts, hitting/kicking/throwing things, cursing, etc. The other thing that has helped more with his moodiness is giving him 5-HTP. It's a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan, and the immediate precursor to the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is referred to as the "feel good" neurotransmitter, and increasing serotonin is the mechanism by which most prescription anti-depressant and mood enhancing drugs work. Coupled with a high protein diet -- so that you don't throw all the amino acids out of balance -- 5-HTP can make a noticeable difference to mood, and also may improve sleep (which contributes to mood improvement).
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Post by sarahsmom1 on Mar 15, 2007 19:32:23 GMT -5
Hi Cat, how much 5 htp would you suggest I actually have some and used it myself occasionally. Is that better tehn the other ameno acid L t.... ? Cant remember what it was but heard that it works then stops working or something like that. Thanks Lisa
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Post by sarahsmom1 on Mar 15, 2007 20:22:45 GMT -5
Hi I just read in "delivered from distraction", that they say you can give a child up to 2.5 grams of omega 3. How do you convert that to mg's? THanks Lisa
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Post by catatonic on Mar 19, 2007 23:33:37 GMT -5
Multiply by 1,000. 2.5g is the same as 2,500mg.
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Post by michel72 on Mar 22, 2007 14:34:50 GMT -5
Catatonic: I have a question .... My son 6 yrs old 50 lbs. Right now he is taking the Magnesium Floradix @ 10ml. Nordic Naturals Omega 3-6-9 junior. ..This is the only omegas he will take. He can not swallow and we have try different ones.. Now I need your help on figuring how many he needs. It has: Serving size: 2 softgels EPA 135mgs DHA 90 mgs Other omega 3's 58mgs total omega 3's 283 mg Omega-6's 112 mg GLA 33mg Omega 9's 122 mgs Oleic acid 80 mg Vitamin E 15 I.U
Now...by reading alot on omegas I know that we need much more than 135mgs of EPA. . But if I give him about 6 of this softgels a day then he will get more of the EPA but much more of everything else and that is when I am not sure if it will be OK to get more of the rest that this contains.
Please.....I need your help !!!! As I mentioned.....He likes this pills...He chews them and likes to pop them. He allways asks for more. but so far for the last 2 weeks I have been giving him only 2 a day. Not enough !!
By the way...he has no problems with the Magnesium upseting his stomach or anything.
Thanks in advance
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Post by catatonic on Mar 23, 2007 23:30:59 GMT -5
Hi Michel, You're lucky you have found a fish oil he'll take without complaint! Good for you. Five or six per day is about right. It will be a little heavy on the GLA, but everything else is good. Should be fine. That Floradix is good stuff, huh?? Cat
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vinh
Member
Posts: 2
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Post by vinh on May 23, 2007 15:12:50 GMT -5
Catatonic and others, I'm considering giving my kids Omega 3 for health reason. Do you have an opinion for Jarrow Formula, Max DHA? It contains 750 mg DHA and 450 mg EPA per 1 teaspoons with lemon flavor. I know that you do not like lemon flavor. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
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Post by catatonic on May 25, 2007 7:47:16 GMT -5
Well, aside from the flavoring issue -- which is not going to be a problem for everyone -- Jarrow is a good choice. They're a reputable brand and subject their product to outside testing. They don't use artificial additives. The DHA and EPA quantities are good. Why not give it a try??
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vinh
Member
Posts: 2
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Post by vinh on May 25, 2007 11:09:45 GMT -5
Catatonic, Thank you for replying. I basically read through the whole Omega 3 thread (not at one time) and it shows that you are very technically sound with Omega 3 subject. I will try Max DHA out and let you know. I’m interested with Max DHA because of high DHA and EPA contents, good price, and proprietary antioxidant blend. It seems the antioxidant blend protects you from the free radicals as the oil breaks down.
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Post by cozysmom on May 28, 2007 11:49:39 GMT -5
Hi,
My dd is eating 2 egg yolks a day. they are 350 mg of Omega's each. She can't do'fish oil' with her ticcing (dx TS/OCD/ADHD) because it causes a huge increase in the tics. I was just reading this in the "poll" section of this board:
My dd is 10 years and 75 pounds. Please help with the amounts of these added supplements she would need and a good brand. Thanks!! you guys.
Martha
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