According to an American study, children who eat fish at least once a week sleep better and have IQ scores 4 points higher on average than those who eat less or not at all
According to a study by the University of Pennsylvania published this week in Scientific Reports, a Nature magazine, children who eat fish at least once a week sleep better and have an average IQ 4 points higher.
Previous studies had shown a relationship between omega-3s, the dietary fatty acids found in many types of fish, and improved intelligence, along with omega-3s and better sleep. But they had never been linked before. This work reveals that sleep could be the possible link, the missing link between fish and intelligence.
A perfectly documented study
This is still an emerging area of research, but researchers have focused on omega-3s from food and not from supplements. A cohort of 541 children aged 9 to 11 in China, 54% boys and 46% girls, completed a questionnaire about the frequency of fish consumption in the past month, with options ranging from “never” to at least. least once a week. They also used the Chinese version of an IQ test called the Revised Children’s Wechsler Intelligence Scale, which examines verbal and non-verbal skills such as vocabulary and coding.
Their parents then answered questions about the quality of sleep using the Children’s Sleep Patterns Questionnaire, which included items such as length of sleep and frequency of nighttime awakenings or daytime sleepiness. Finally, the researchers controlled for demographic information, including parental education, occupation and marital status as well as the number of children in the home.
The benefits of fish on IQ demonstrated
Analyzing this data, Penn’s team found that children who reported eating fish every week scored 4.8 points higher on IQ tests than those who said they “rarely” or “never” ate fish. Those whose meals sometimes included fish scored 3.3 points higher.
Additionally, increased fish consumption was associated with less sleep disturbance, which the researchers said indicates better overall sleep quality. Lack of sleep is associated with antisocial behavior, poor cognition is associated with antisocial behavior. Omega-3 supplements reduce antisocial behavior, so it’s no surprise that the fish are behind this.
This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing that eating fish has health benefits and should be more promoted. Children should be introduced to it early on, for example around the age of 2, as introducing a taste early makes it more acceptable. Omega-3s are particularly present in salmon, herring, mackerel, tuna, sardines. But also, sole, ray, whiting.
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