(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) A recent study conducted in Oman proves that Omega-3 fatty acids reduce fat content in children significantly and improve their cardio-respiratory fitness and cognitive abilities.
Speaking to Muscat Daily Dr Samia al Ghannami director of nutrition in the Ministry of Health (MoH) said 'Following the implementation of a similar project in the UK Oman was the first country to be chosen in the region for the same. Positive effects of fish on health parameters were found during the study and we are in the process of developing guidelines in cooperation with MoH and the Ministry of Education to encourage increased consumption of fish and/or fish oils to promote healthy eating in schools. Omanis consume fish but the idea is to promote consumption of baked or boiled fish and not fried ones.'
This project which began in December 2012 was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF). It was undertaken to study the impact of consumption of fish and fish oil on the health and cognitive functions in schoolchildren besides seeing if it can reduce the risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCD) prevalence in the country.
She said that to provide evidence-based data for Omani population on the benefits of fish and fish oil intake on health MoAF in collaboration with MoH MoE Sultan Qaboos University and Life Sciences faculty of London Metropolitan University studied the effects of seafood consumption in 354 schoolchildren aged nine and ten years (grade 4) at three schools in Muscat.
'The children were randomly divided into fish fish oil and control groups. Each group comprised 118 children' she said. The first group was given fish during lunch four times a week. The second group was given fish oil (200mg docosahexaenoic acid - DHA) every day for the same period of time. The third group was not given either of these - they continued with their normal diet. The intervention period was for 16 weeks' she said.
'Fish was selected from those available in local markets and popular among Omanis like the grouper sea bream kingfish emperor trevally snapper sardine etc.'
She said fish was cooked using different methods in order to check the health benefits and provided to children once daily for four days a week for four months.
Dr Samia said 'This project was aimed at (i) assessing the dietary intake nutritional status blood lipid fatty acid profile and urinary iodine concentration in schoolchildren; (ii) investigating the effects of fish consumption on schoolchildren's health and cognitive abilities (iii) testing the effectiveness of Omega-3 fatty acid supplement (fish oil) on children's health and cognitive functions.'
Prof Hussein I al Sharief the deputy prime investigator for the project said 'The study was presented recently by Dr Samia al Ghannami on behalf of the research team at the Stockholm Forum which earned the appreciation of many scientists and policymakers around the world.'
He expressed hope that changing the food habits and frequent consumption of fish and fish oil and changing cooking habits by avoiding saturated oils may improve health and prevent many serious non-communicable diseases. 'We expect Oman to take a leading role in providing evidence-based solutions to the rapidly expanding non–communicable diseases' he said.
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