Omega-3 rich fish oils are creeping onto the radar of pediatricians looking for ways to help children who suffer from learning and developmental challenges.

Fish oils may be proving effective. The problem: a lack of solid research. The promise: that kids suffering from disorders such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may benefit from Omega-3.

Why the interest? Researchers have found that a key ingredient in Omega-3 fatty acids, the so-called long chain DHA, may have something to do with the development of an child’s brain and nervous system. Exactly what that something is, and what kind of a fish oil dosage is best prescribed, remains elusive data.

There have been some limited clinical trials which shed a positive but preliminary light on the subject.

“Grandma was right: cod liver oil is good for you,” says Dr. Edward Hallowell, with the Sudbury, Massachusetts based Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health.

But he cautions us that “It takes more than fish oil to cure A.D.H.D.” When severe disorders need treatment, more advanced medications are typically called for. A concern physicians share is that well-intentioned parents will try Omega-3 supplements and fish oils for too long a period of time before seeking more appropriate medications.

Omega-3 rich diets improve insulin sensitivity… another research-based confirmation that Omega-3 plays a key role in maintaining a healthy heart.

Insulin sensitivity is one of the measurements used to determine the risk of heart disease. The higher the insulin sensitivity, the lower the risk of heart disease. The more Omega-3 in our diet, the higher the insulin sensitivity.

Researchers with the Kronos Longevity Research Institute in Phoenix, Arizona have been looking at diets high in Omega-3. They have found that consuming more Omega-3s improves insulin sensitivity.

Dr. S. Mitchell Harman, MD, PhD, is the Director and President at Kronos.

“We concluded that a diet high in omega-3 increases insulin sensitivity and reduces inflammatory markers. As we age, hormone secretion and cell responsiveness decrease, possibly due to loss of cell membrane fluidity or alteration of the membrane. Animal studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids may help hormone signals get into cells whose cell membrane has been stiffened by age.”

Source: Kronos Longevity Research Institute

People with Diabetes Mellitus interested in learning more about Omega-3 fatty acids know that the leading causes of death are usually associated with cardiovascular problems.

And one of the leading causes is a high level of serum triglyceride. This triglyceride is most common with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Omega-3 can help lower the levels of this serum triglyceride. It has proven especially helpful for people suffering from tends to hypertriglyceridemia.

Hypertriglyceridemia is the abnormally high level of triglycerides and cholesterol. There are five different types of Hypertriglyceridemia.

While research has shown that Omega-3 does help reduce triglycerides, there is no solid evidence from the researchers with the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University that Omega-3 fatty acids are highly effective when it comes to fighting high cholesterol.

Advice for people with diabetes from The American Diabetes Association… a diet that includes two to three 3-oz servings of fish every week.

Looking for more sources of Omega-3? Crack open a tin of Sardines.

Sardines have faded from fashion. They are not nearly as popular as they once were.

But these small fish are regaining lost attention as people look for sources of healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. Sardines are also a good source of of B12, calcium, and Vitamin D.

Because they are typically caught in deeper waters, Sardines are not tarnished with PCBs or mercury.

These are oily fish, fatty, rich in nutrients, and from the family of fish related to herring. The oils are throughout the fillet in the sardine… this differs from most whitefish where rich, health oils are concentrated in the liver.

Sardines rich in Omega-3 typically come canned. The size of the sardine varies but is rarely more than four inches long. They are packed in oil with their heads and gills removed and they are usually eviscerated.

Omega-3 fatty acid levels in sardines are typically high because of the concentration of oil.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish

Naturally, it is best to talk with your physician about your supplements.

Omega-3 fatty acids should be used with care if you

• Bruise easily

• Have a Bleeding Disorder

• Take Blood Thinning Medications such as Coumadin or Plavix

The reason why: excessive amounts of Omega-3 may cause bleeding. Excessive amounts are typically more than three grams daily.

For some people, Omega-3 supplements can cause diarrhea.

Sufferers of Diabetes or certain types of Schizophrenia may have problems processing the alpha-linolenic acids (ALAs) to eicosapentaenoic acids (EPAs) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHAs.)

Source: University of Maryland

In 2007 researchers with the University of Florida and the University of Colorado released results of a study designed to shed more light on the possible benefits of increased Omega-3 consumption as a way to lessen the risk of Diabetes.

They found that increasing Omega-3 fatty acid consumption does reduce the risk of the body attacking insulin-producing cells.

Researchers studied 1,800 children at risk for Type 1 Diabetes.

Scientists feel that one reason for the increase in the number of people suffering from Diabetes is the result of changes in the food we eat.

Dr. Michael Clare-Salzler, a professor and the Stetson chair in experimental pathology at the University of Florida College of Medicine explains:

“The foods we are eating now are qualitatively much different than those produced on a 1900s-era farm. When animals are commercially raised today, they are often fed grains rich in omega-6 fatty acids, fatty acids that can promote inflammation. In the old days, animals received a much more balanced intake of omega-3 and omega 6-fatty acids.”

Scientists say the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids in our diet has been plunging as food processing, fertilizing and feeding changes.

Some estimates suggest the amount of Omega-3s has plunged 28 fold over the past hundred years, often requiring supplements to make up for this loss.

In terms of lessening the risk of Type 1 Diabetes, Dr. Clare-Salzer suggests that the ability of Omega-3s to reduce inflammation may be one of the ways they help:

“Animal studies have shown inflammation in the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas is an early event that leads to type 1 diabetes. From these studies in mice, it appears if you thwart inflammation you can prevent the disease from occurring. The human parallel in this study indicates that higher dietary intake of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of developing an immune response to the insulin-producing cells.”

Details are available in the September 26, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.