Autism Treatments: Using Fish Oil Supplements in Treating Dyslexia

Dyslexia and fish oil supplements have a really intimate relationship.

While this disorder is often seen as a learning disability, it’s often viewed by many to be a nutritional disorder. And though adding fish oil to the diet may not be called a “cure”, it certainly will make a huge difference.

Fish oil supplements and dyslexia are best handled during the pregnancy and nursing stages. To prevent further complications, it’s best to make sure that a baby will get optimum levels of omega 3 fatty acids from the mother.

A lot of research has shown that fish oil is a vital factor in the proper growth of a child’s brain.

Studies indicate that children born to mothers who eat adequate amounts of oily fish or take fish oil supplements are less likely to have ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and a host of many developmental disorders.

That is good news for mothers who are planning to have more children. But what if you already have a kid with dyslexia?

Well, there’s positive news for you as well. Research on omega 3 fish fatty acids shows great promise for children with dyslexia- as well as for adults.

It looks like almost every study made on dyslexia starts by stating this widely-accepted fact ? that developmental dyslexia is associated with the lack of highly unsaturated fatty acids, which are the very same fatty acids noted in fish. This surely tells something about the disease.

A study conducted at the Oxford University Laboratory of Physiology, and published in Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, suggests that “children with high fatty acid deficiency ratings showed poorer reading and lower general ability” than kids who do not have the deficiency.

In addition, these researchers went on to indicate that the results of their study “support the hypothesis that fatty acid deficiency may add to the severity of dyslexic problems.” [Vol. 63:69-74]

Okay, so specifically what’s there with fish oil supplements and dyslexia?

Our friends at the Laboratory of Physiology have good news. They have concluded through their research that dyslexia can be treated specifically through supplementing with omega 3 fatty acid fish oil.

These findings are fully supported by other studies too. S.M. Baker for instance, noted in the Journal of Learning Disabilities that kids with dyslexia have shown remarkable improvement with schoolwork after treatment with fatty acids.

B. J Stordy also wrote in Lancet that there was a normalization of visual deficits in dyslexic adults after being supplemented with omega 3 fatty acids. [Vol. 346:385]

What makes this particularly of importance is that visual deficits are noted to be a major component of dyslexia.

I agree with this! However it’s kind of funny why scientists keep saying that they need to do more studies on this subject. I presume it’s because they’ll lose their research grants if they finally reveal the answer. Therefore, they keep on leaving an option for more funding.

However, if you have a family member dealing with this disorder, you need not wait further. You should start by increasing the intake of omega 3 fish oil.

And based on the studies made, I would say that a dyslexic needs to ensure that they are receiving 1 to 4grams daily.

Source: fish oil