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The aim of this feasibility study is to determine whether a nutritional intervention in children and their parents can improve their sleep quality and behavior. The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial of omega-3 supplementation to children and their mothers.
Previous studies show omega-3 fatty acid supplements improve adolescent's antisocial behavior. However it is less known whether the same effect could be achieved in younger children. Furthermore it is not known whether omega-3 fatty acids could also improve parental behavior and parenting style which could further reduce behavioral problems in children. Moreover, we recently found that children who consume fish more frequently have less sleep problems but it is not known whether omega-3 supplements could also potentially improve children's sleep. We aim to test several hypotheses in this random controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids.
The study design will consist of a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial of children and their caregivers in a community sample in the city of Philadelphia. It will utilize a random parallel design, in which child and mother pairs will be randomly assigned to either omega-3 supplementation (treatment condition) or a placebo (control condition). This results in 2 groups: (1) child and caregiver both receiving omega-3 and (2) both parent and child receiving the placebo. Treatment will last 45 days. Assessments will take place at 0 months (baseline), 45 days (end of supplementation) and 90 days (45 days after the end of treatment).
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 fatty acids | Experimental | Both the mother and child will receive omega-3 supplements in the form of a 200 mL drink to be taken once daily. The intervention will last 45 days. Assessments will take place at 0 months (baseline), 45 days (end of treatment), and 3 months (1 and a half months post-treatment). |
|
| Placebo | Placebo Comparator | The mother and child will both receive a placebo drink to take daily, with no known effect on the brain. The intervention will last 45 days. Assessments will take place at 0 months (baseline), 45 days (end of treatment), and 3 months (1 and a half months post-treatment). |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 fatty acids | Dietary Supplement | 200 ml drink. The drink contains 840 mg total of omega-3 (360 mg of DHA, 240 mg of EPA, 200 mg of alpha-linolenic acid, and 40 mg of DPA). |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep | For parent sleep patterns, we will use the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to evaluate changes. For children's sleep, we will use the Child Sleep Habits questionnaire. | 3 months |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Child behavior | Will use the Child Behavior Checklist to evaluate changes in child behavior. | 3 months |
| Parental behavior | Will use the Adult Self Report to evaluate changes in parent behavior. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jianghong Liu, PhD | University of Pennsylvania | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 19104 | United States |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25146492 | Background | Raine A, Portnoy J, Liu J, Mahoomed T, Hibbeln JR. Reduction in behavior problems with omega-3 supplementation in children aged 8-16 years: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, stratified, parallel-group trial. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2015 May;56(5):509-20. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12314. Epub 2014 Aug 22. | |
| 29269884 | Background |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| D001519 | Behavior |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D015525 | Fatty Acids, Omega-3 |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D004042 | Dietary Fats, Unsaturated |
| D004041 | Dietary Fats |
| D005223 | Fats |
| D008055 | Lipids |
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| Placebo | Dietary Supplement | 200 mL placebo fruit juice with no effect on the hypothesized outcome. |
|
| 3 months |
| Child and parental cognitive behavior | Will use online cognitive test to evaluate changes in cognition. | 3 months |
| Parental style | Will use the Alabama Parenting questionnaire to evaluate changes in parenting style. | 3 months |
| Liu J, Cui Y, Li L, Wu L, Hanlon A, Pinto-Martin J, Raine A, Hibbeln JR. The mediating role of sleep in the fish consumption - cognitive functioning relationship: a cohort study. Sci Rep. 2017 Dec 21;7(1):17961. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17520-w. |
| D005231 |
| Fatty Acids, Unsaturated |
| D005227 | Fatty Acids |
| D005395 | Fish Oils |
| D009821 | Oils |