Recent study Weekly fish consumption improves sleep and IQ

When children eat fish regularly, sleep and intelligence improve

Many people today suffer from sleep problems. Researchers have now found that regular consumption of fish in children leads to slightly increased IQ levels and also improves their sleep compared to children who did not eat any or only little fish.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found in their current research that weekly consumption of fish improves intelligence and sleep. The results of the study were published in the English-language journal "Scientific Reports".

How do omega-3 fatty acids affect intelligence and sleep??

There have been previous studies that found an association between omega-3 fatty acids found in many types of fish and improved intelligence. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids also improved sleep. In their latest study, scientists looked at how omega-3 fatty acids derived from natural fish, and not dietary supplements, affect intelligence and sleep.

Participants had to answer different questionnaires

For their study, the physicians analyzed the questionnaires of 541 subjects aged between nine and eleven, which came from China. The participants consisted of 54 percent boys and 46 percent girls together. The questionnaire determined how many times the children had consumed fish in the past month. In addition, the results of a Chinese IQ test were also taken into account, which examined verbal and nonverbal abilities. The parents of the children also answered questions about sleep quality in a questionnaire on child sleep habits, which included, for example, sleep duration, nocturnal awakening and sleepiness during the day. Finally, the researchers controlled demographic information, including parental education, occupation and marital status, and the number of children in the household.

Fish-eating children have better sleep quality

In their analysis, the authors found that weekly fish-consuming children achieved 4.8 points more in their IQ exams compared to children who rarely or never ingested fish. If the children sometimes fish, this led to an increased IQ value of 3.3 points, according to the authors. In addition, increased fish consumption was associated with less sleep disorders. According to the researchers, the fish-eating children overall showed better sleep quality.

Lack of sleep is associated with antisocial behavior

A lack of sleep can lead to all kinds of negative effects. For example, lack of sleep is associated with antisocial behavior, says author Adrian Raine of the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. The physicians have already found in previous studies that omega-3 supplements reduce antisocial behavior. Therefore, it was not too surprising that the effect of consuming fish is also triggered.

Children must be accustomed to the consumption and smell of fish at an early stage

The study highlights the health benefits of fish consumption. Children should be familiarized with the consumption of fish at an early stage, the scientists advise. The consumption of fish can be started as early as ten months, as long as the fish does not contain any bones and has been cut as small as possible. But at the age of two at the latest should be started with the consumption, so the experts weiiter. Getting children used to the taste of fish early on would make these fish tastier, explains Professor Jennifer Pinto-Martin. Fish is rarely served in our culture and children are also rarely confronted with the smell. But especially children are very sensitive to odors. If children are not used to the smell of fish, they can discourage consumption, explains the expert.

Further research is needed

Because this study was conducted on very young participants, the scientists decided not to analyze the details of the fish species consumed by the children. However, this is already planned for a future cohort study. Other studies are now to determine if eating fish in general can lead to better sleep, better school performance and other positive outcomes. The doctors recommend at this time that people should gradually take fish into their diet. This could eventually lead to fish being consumed once a week. If fish improves sleep, that's really great. In addition, if eating fish improves cognitive performance, as noted in the study, this is even better, the authors emphasize. (As)