Fish oil benefits and harms for children dosage

An effective, popular, inexpensive means of maintaining the health of babies is fish oil. Omega 3 supplies the body with substances, polyunsaturated acids, which are not produced, but are important for the normal, full functioning of the child.

Useful qualities

Sometimes, along with nutrition, the child does not receive enough necessary substances for proper development. Then the question arises of which drugs to use as a dietary supplement. Among the natural and safe dietary supplements, fish oil meets all requirements for the quantity and quality of useful ingredients.

This unique combination of essential substances is not found anywhere else.

You can replace the intake of fish oil if you give your child 300 g of sea fish twice a week, feed him walnuts, and high-quality vegetable oil. This is possible for older children; this method is not suitable for newborns.

The table clearly shows all the beneficial components contained in fish oil, their effect on the development of infants, as well as what the deficiency will lead to.

Name	Body reaction
Name	upon assimilation	in case of shortage
Vitamin A	Strengthens cell membranes, which is especially important for babies with allergic reactions.	Visual acuity decreases, dry mucous membranes appear. Nails peel, hair breaks.
Vitamin D	Helps absorb calcium and phosphorus, strengthens bones, and promotes normal skeletal formation.	Rickets develops.
Vitamin E	Needed for normal muscle function. Reduces the risk of oncological degeneration of tissues, reduces the manifestation of allergies.	Blood clotting is impaired.
Iodine	Takes part in all metabolic processes.	Young children may have mental retardation. At school age, iodine deficiency leads to decreased intelligence, severe drowsiness, and lethargy.
Phosphorus	Stimulates the growth of bone tissue and teeth. Needed for normal functioning of the kidneys and nervous system.	Anxiety, weakness, decreased cognitive activity.
Omega 3 fatty polyunsaturated acids	They take part in the formation of brain cells, the development and functioning of the heart, blood vessels, and internal systems. Helps strengthen the immune system.	There is growth retardation, decreased mental and physical development, decreased performance, and fatigue.
Docosahexaenoic acid	Takes part in strengthening the central nervous system, retina, and normalizes blood supply to the brain.	Provokes neurotic disorders, absent-mindedness.
Eicosapentaenoic acid	Maintains a normal level of digestive juice in the stomach, stabilizes the secretion of bile, strengthens the immune system.	Attention is impaired, absent-mindedness, nervousness, and anxiety develop.

Fish oil: benefits and harm for children

What is fish oil for? It is difficult to underestimate its benefits, knowing about such a rich composition.

In particular, fish oil:

prevents the development of rickets and obesity;
normalizes the activity of the cardiovascular, respiratory systems, and digestive organs;
promotes the absorption of calcium, fluorine and phosphorus;
strengthens bones, teeth, has a positive effect on hair growth;
stabilizes the metabolic process;
cleanses the blood, reduces cholesterol levels;
protects the body from the effects of stress;
stimulates brain function;
helps mental development, improving memory;
participates in the production of seratonin, which is necessary to improve mood and fight depression;
important for the skin, reduces the risk of tumor formation, including cancer;
serves for the prevention of infectious diseases.

And this is not all the benefits of fish oil for children: it can be effective in treating a number of eye and skin diseases.

Despite the obvious advantages, fish oil is not always useful for children; sometimes it harms the body, in particular:

causes allergies in children prone to it;
may contain flavorings and artificial sweeteners as additives;
if taken for a long time or if the dosage is exceeded, it worsens the condition of the body;
when obtained from fish, the meat of which contains petroleum products and other harmful substances, it is not a safe drug.

Application area

Breasts are allowed to consume fish oil from a certain time. A doctor can determine the need and time.

The indications are:

prevention of rickets;
poor memory;
attention deficit syndrome;
anemia;
lack of growth;
hemophilia;
eye diseases;
poor muscle mass gain;
frequent colds;
decreased vision;
poor immunity;
aggression and irritability of the child;
poor condition of the scalp;
allergic manifestations;
obesity;
treatment of skin damage;
dry skin;
recovery period after surgery.

Fish oil is essential for a newborn who is bottle-fed. After all, he does not receive useful substances, for example, fatty acids in milk formulas.

However, mothers should carefully study the labels on the jar with the mixture; the fact is that the manufacturer may include Omega 3 fatty acids in the composition, then additional intake of fish oil will not be required. Be careful to avoid overdose!

Do children need it?

Despite the many positive properties, the question of using fish oil for modern children is not so categorical. Indeed, today vitamin D deficiency itself is not such a common situation. For all children who are at risk due to the likelihood of developing rickets, pediatricians prescribe Aquadetrim , an aqueous solution of vitamin D, which is given in certain strict dosages. When administered to a child, it is enough to swallow one drop of the drug, which is much easier than drinking a whole spoonful of liquid and unpleasant-smelling fish oil.

In addition, the need for vitamin D is covered by eating adapted milk formulas, into which it is necessarily included by all baby food manufacturers.

Vigantol oil solution to their young patients of any age, including newborns , which not only replenishes vitamin D deficiency, but also regulates the exchange of calcium and phosphorus in the body.

Thus, there is no need to give your child fish oil. But if you want, you can feed it to your baby, the main thing is to choose the right product.

Contraindications

Famous children's doctor E.O. Komarovsky speaks positively about the use of fish oil. However, it reminds us of the importance of following the dosage. Follow exactly the amount of the drug, dosage regimen, and duration of preventive treatment prescribed by your pediatrician.

According to the doctor, taking fish oil was relevant in the middle of the last century. For rickets, this was an ideal remedy, because there was not much variety in baby food. Currently, you have a fairly varied diet, spend a lot of time in the sun and fresh air, and there will be no need to supplement with fish oil.

However, it is not useful for everyone. Contraindications are:

stomach diseases;
problems with the thyroid gland;
excess vitamins A, D;
liver diseases;
tuberculosis;
diabetes;
allergies to fish and seafood;
low blood pressure;
kidney stone disease;
poor blood clotting.

In infants, fish oil can cause allergies, because the digestive system has not yet begun to produce the necessary enzymes for digestion. Up to a year, the drug is prescribed in the form of drops, but even such a minimal amount can cause digestive upset, for example, loose stools. To avoid this, the supplement must be added to your usual food, which is already well absorbed.

You should start with a very small amount and carefully observe the baby’s body reaction. If everything is in order, I gradually increase the dosage, bringing it to the daily norm prescribed by the doctor.

Dosage

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A very important condition for children is compliance with the correct dosage. An excess of fish oil is unlikely, since a very small amount is consumed. The danger may be an overdose of vitamins contained in the supplement. With hypervitaminosis, abdominal pain and liver dysfunction are observed.

An overabundance of fish oil poses a great danger for infants under six months. Increased intake of vitamin D stimulates increased bone growth. This provokes the overgrowth of the fontanel on the head ahead of schedule, which can cause many painful conditions, for example, increased intracranial pressure.

In the diet of an infant

The prescription of such a supplement for babies in the first 12 months of life must be agreed with a pediatrician. The doctor will take into account the rate of development of the baby, the overgrowth of the fontanelles and other nuances, on the basis of which he will conclude that the baby needs fish oil. You cannot independently give any drug containing fish oil to an infant who is not yet 1 year old.

It should be noted that children who are fed mother's milk have less need for additional sources of vitamins and healthy fats in the first six months of life. The same cannot be said about artificial babies. If a formula-fed baby does not get enough omega-3 and omega-6 fats, this can lead to problems with intellectual development.

In such a situation, the pediatrician will certainly recommend the inclusion of fish oil in the baby’s diet, selecting the drug individually, and then determining the required dosage, as well as the duration of administration. Doctors call the minimum age at which fish oil is prescribed 4 weeks.

Watch the video in which Dr. Komarovsky talks about the use of vitamins contained in fish oil to prevent rickets in young children:

For the little ones

Every mother wonders whether it is possible to give fish oil to her baby. This is decided by the pediatrician on an individual basis. It is necessary to take into account the development of the baby, the rate of overgrowth of the fontanel, the type of feeding, even the number of sunny days. Usually, a baby is prescribed the drug no earlier than one month from birth.

The standard dose is 5 drops in the morning and evening. At 6 months, the baby drinks a teaspoon a day. The dosage remains the same per year, only the number of doses increases. The drug is given during meals and can be mixed into salads and other dishes. No need to heat, should be added to already cooked products. From the age of seven you can switch to capsules that must be swallowed. The duration of treatment should not be more than three months.

Practical advice for choosing

Before you buy fish oil for infants, you need to understand what it is like. It is produced in liquid form, in the form of gummies and capsules. It is convenient to use liquid forms of Omega 3 for infants.

What is she like? This is a rather thick liquid of light yellow color with a specific fishy odor. Previously it was made from the liver of cod fish. But a large amount of toxins accumulate in this organ, so now children get a better quality product from the carcass using a cold press.

Before you buy, you need to read the instructions about the method of manufacturing the product. The quality is indicated by fat prepared from ocean fish carcasses. But shark fish is considered a less safe supplier of oil.
Norwegian fat is an environmentally friendly product. No pollutants were found in the seas of this state where fishing is carried out. Among Russian manufacturers, Murmansk companies have good products.
The production of oil from fish is not strictly regulated because it is not a drug. That is why you need to buy a drug labeled “medical”. Otherwise, you can purchase a product for veterinary or household use.
Fish and fish oils are commercially available. They differ in composition. Fish contains more vitamins, fish contains mainly Omega-3 fatty acids. The pediatrician should tell you which one is needed for an infant.
When buying a drug, you need to look for one without flavorings. Often liquid fat is additionally deodorized to remove unpleasant taste and smell. But synthetic fragrances can cause allergies in young children. Or opt for all-natural aromatic ingredients, such as essential oils.
Also, the bottle should be made of thick dark glass, since fatty acids can oxidize under the influence of the sun. A responsible manufacturer pours fat to the brim, under the cork. After all, under the influence of oxygen, Omega-3 also oxidizes. For the same reason, the bottle should be stored in the refrigerator, so the drug will retain its beneficial qualities longer.
Do not take large bottles, most likely by the end of use the product will no longer be fresh and will lose its nutritional value. It is better to buy Omega 3 in a small container, no more than 100 ml.
Please note that Omega 3 is in the form of triglycerides and not esters, so the supplement is better absorbed by the child’s body and brings more benefits.

Popular drugs

There are many drugs on the market. Series in liquid form are offered especially for young children. For example, Moller Kalanmaksaoljy is children's fish oil. Made in Finland, approved for use from six months because it contains flavoring.

According to reviews from parents, the drugs considered best are “Norsk BarneTran” (manufactured in Norway). This is fish oil in liquid form. The first contains lemon or orange natural flavoring, the second contains herbal extracts.

Allergies are possible in infants; you should consult your doctor about the need to use these particular medications.

In Russia it is produced in liquid form “BIOKontur”. It is suitable for babies from one month old, as it does not contain synthetic additives. “Magic Fish” is also produced in our country and has no flavorings. There is a convenient dropper on the lid.

It is advisable to find words on the label that the drug is recommended for babies up to one year old. Most manufacturers produce the drug in the form of capsules and gelatin candies, which are designed for older children.

Top 5 Liquid Supplements

The names of oil vitamin solutions are sorted according to the number of positive reviews.

No. 5 California Gold Nutrition, DHA for children

California Gold Nutrition, Children's DHA, 1050 mg, Omega-3 with Vitamin D3, 2 fl oz (59 ml)

★★★★☆

from 739 ₽

Price for 1 serving – 54 rubles. 25 kopecks

Country of origin: USA;
volume – 59 ml;
concentration – 1050 mg.

This is a natural fish oil and can be given to infants up to one year old and older children. The American drug contains a large amount of omega acids, which are enhanced by a complex of vitamins D and A. The product is dosed dropwise or using a measuring pipette.

Pros:

Dietary supplement accelerates teething;
strengthens bones;
improves psychomotor development.

Minuses:

pungent fishy smell.

No. 4 Nordic Naturals, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) for children

Nordic Naturals, Children's DHA, Strawberry Flavor, 16 fl oz (473 ml)

from 3,092 ₽

The cost of 1 serving is 13 rubles. 50 kopecks

Country of origin: Norway;
volume – 473 ml;
concentration – 530 mg.

Liquid fish oil (syrup) is used in children under 6 years of age. Derived from wild Arctic cod and purified at the molecular level. The daily serving is only half a teaspoon.

Pros:

the syrup has a strawberry flavor and a balanced composition;
used for prevention;
stimulates the development of the nervous system.

Minuses:

not all children like the taste of the oil solution.

No. 3 Moller Omega-3 Kalanmaksaoljy, Liquid fish oil with fruit flavor

Price for 1 serving – 28 rubles.

Country – Norway;
volume – 250 ml;
concentration – 1200 mg.

Children's liquid fish oil from cod liver. Subjected to multi-stage purification from toxins. It has a high concentration of omega acids, additionally contains D3 (10 mcg) and vitamin A (250 mcg), as well as natural antioxidants that protect the product from oxidation.

Pros:

the drug strengthens bone tissue;
stimulates immune defense;
maintains visual acuity.

Minuses:

difficult to find in Russia.

#2 Wiley's Finest, Alaskan Fish Oil, EPA, Children!

Wiley's Finest, Alaskan Fish Oil, EPA, Kids!, Natural Mango Peach Flavor, 1,500 mg, 4.23 fl oz (125 ml)

from 2,002 ₽

The cost of 1 serving is 68 rubles. 70 kopecks

Country of origin: USA;
volume – 125 ml;
concentration – 1500 mg.

The most concentrated drug from our rating. The product, in addition to fatty acids, contains a multivitamin complex and lutein. To improve the organoleptic properties, natural mango and peach flavors are added to it.

Pros: