ArticleThe American journal of clinical nutrition2017
Executive functions and the ω-6-to-ω-3 fatty acid ratio: a cross-sectional study.
Article in The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02199808 (Fatty Acids and Executive Functions), which is not on this map. Cited by 12 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Fatty Acids and Executive Functions: Cortical Activation and Behavioral Performance.
Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation vs Placebo on Developmental Outcomes of Toddlers Born Preterm: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA pediatrics · 2018Trial
- Effect of Omega-3 and -6 Supplementation on Language in Preterm Toddlers Exhibiting Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2017Trial
- Baseline Fatty Acids and Time-Averaged Executive Function in Ugandan Children With Perinatal HIV.Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2026Article
- A Longitudinal Study of Baseline Fatty Acid Concentrations and Executive Function Over 12 Months Among Adolescents With and Without Perinatal HIV Exposure or Infection From Kampala, Uganda.The Journal of nutrition · 2025Article
- Global variations in omega-3 fatty acid status and omega-6:omega-3 ratios: insights from > 500,000 whole-blood dried blood spot samples.Lipids in health and disease · 2025Article
- Lambs fed with soy lecithin and its effect on carcass parameters, lipid peroxidation and fatty acid composition of meat.Tropical animal health and production · 2025Article
- Omega-3 polygenic score protects against altered eating behavior in intrauterine growth-restricted children.Pediatric research · 2023Article
- Children with lower ratings of executive functions have a greater response to the portion size effect.Appetite · 2023Article
- Association between dietary quality and executive functions in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder.Frontiers in nutrition · 2022Article
- Association of dietary ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids intake with cognitive performance in older adults: National Health and nutrition examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014.Nutrition journal · 2020Article
- Omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid intake of children and older adults in the U.S.: dietary intake in comparison to current dietary recommendations and the Healthy Eating Index.Lipids in health and disease · 2018Article
- A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a New Supplementary Food Designed to Enhance Cognitive Performance during Prevention and Treatment of Malnutrition in Childhood.Current developments in nutrition · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe ω-6 (n-6) to ω-3 (n-3) fatty acid (FA) ratio (n-6:n-3 ratio) was previously shown to be a predictor of executive function performance in children aged 7-9 y.
objectiveWe aimed to replicate and extend previous findings by exploring the role of the n-6:n-3 ratio in executive function performance. We hypothesized that there would be an interaction between n-3 and the n-6:n-3 ratio, with children with low n-3 performing best with a low ratio, and those with high n-3 performing best with a high ratio.
designChildren were recruited on the basis of their consumption of n-6 and n-3 FAs. The executive function performance of 78 children aged 7-12 y was tested with the use of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery and a planning task. Participants provided blood for plasma FA quantification, and the caregiver completed demographic and activity questionnaires. We investigated the role of the n-6:n-3 ratio in the entire sample and separately in children aged 7-9 y (n = 41) and 10-12 y (n = 37).
resultsDietary and plasma n-6:n-3 ratio and n-3 predicted performance on working memory and planning tasks in children 7-12 y old. The interaction between dietary n-6:n-3 ratio and n-3 predicted the number of moves required to solve the most difficult planning problems in children aged 7-9 y and those aged 10-12 y, similar to results from the previous study. There was also an interaction between the plasma n-6:n-3 ratio and n-3 predicting time spent thinking through the difficult 5-move planning problems. The n-6:n-3 ratio and n-3 predicted executive function performance differently in children aged 7-9 y and in those aged 10-12 y, indicating different optimal FA balances across development.
conclusionsThe n-6:n-3 ratio is an important consideration in the role of FAs in cognitive function, and the optimal balance of n-6 and n-3 FAs depends on the cognitive function and developmental period studied. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02199808.
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