Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42042214›Full record

ReviewMarine drugs2026

A Review of Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Marine Source Supplements and Enhanced Food Effects on Children's Development, Neurological and Metabolic Disorders and General Health.

Maria Dimopoulou, Stavroula Savvidi, Panagiotis Madesis, Aliki Dimopoulou, Dimitrios Stagos, Olga Gortzi

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Marine drugs, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Maria DimopoulouDepartment of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agriculture Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece.ORCID 0009-0001-0139-289X
Stavroula SavvidiDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece.
Panagiotis MadesisDepartment of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agriculture Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-1447-3514
Aliki DimopoulouDepartment of Psychology, School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece.
Dimitrios StagosDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece.
Olga GortziDepartment of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agriculture Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) of omega-3 family, particularly docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, are essential nutrients that play a critical role in children's growth and health. This review examines the evidence on the effects of omega-3 supplements and omega-3-enhanced foods on children's development, as well as on neurological and metabolic disorders. Research consistently highlights the importance of DHA in brain and visual development, especially during early childhood, when rapid neural growth occurs. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant articles published up to January 2026. Adequate omega-3 intake has been associated with improvements in cognitive performance, attention, and learning outcomes. In children with neurodevelopmental conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder, omega-3 supplementation shows modest but potential benefits in reducing behavioral symptoms and supporting executive function, although results remain mixed. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids exhibit anti-inflammatory properties that may positively influence metabolic health, including lipid profiles, insulin sensitivity, and obesity-related risk factors in children. Omega-3-enhanced foods provide an alternative to supplements and may improve adherence and overall dietary quality. However, variability in dosage, study design, and baseline nutritional status limits definitive conclusions. Overall, omega-3 fatty acids appear to support healthy development and may aid in managing certain neurological and metabolic disorders in children.

Indexed as

Aquatic OrganismsChild DevelopmentDietary SupplementsFatty Acids, Omega-3Metabolic DiseasesNervous System DiseasesAnimalsChildHumansFatty Acids, Omega-3attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderautism spectrum disorderchildhoodcognitive performancelearning outcomesοmega-3 fatty acids

Identifiers

PMID42042214
PMCPMC13118066

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.