A randomized, placebo-controlled study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (February 3, 2010; doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28549) examined the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on brain activity in healthy boys between the ages of 8 and 10. DHA is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid commonly found in fish oil.
In this study, 33 participants received either a placebo, 400 mg per day of DHA, or 1,200 mg per day of DHA. Supplementation increased DHA levels in red blood cell membranes, confirming uptake of the fatty acid.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed that boys receiving the higher dose of DHA showed increased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—a brain region involved in attention and executive function—and reduced activity in lower brain regions, including the occipital and cerebellar cortices.
The authors suggested that these changes in brain activation patterns may reflect more efficient neural processing. While the study did not directly measure academic performance, the findings support a potential role for DHA in processes related to concentration and learning.
