FAT, FISH and THINKING
Fatty Acids are Essential 
Fat is usually regarded as a nutrient that should be avoided at all costs, but that isn't the case. There are two fatty acids that are essential for life - linoleic acid (LA) in the omega-6 family and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in the omega-3 family. Like vitamins, these essential fatty acids can't be produced by the body and therefore must be obtained through the diet. LA is found in certain seed oils, while ALA is in dark green leafy vegetables, flaxseed oil and linseed oil.
In order to be useful to the body, LA and ALA must be converted by a series of steps in the body to longer chain fatty acids: arachidonic acid (AA); gamma linolenic acid (GLA which the body converts to AA); and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These conversions can be slowed down by many lifestyle factors, including a diet rich in saturated fats and trans-fatty acids, stress, viral infections, too much alcohol or cholesterol and various illnesses.
Fatty Acids Affect the Brain
Long chain fatty acids have many important functions and are the building blocks of phospholipid membranes around and within cells. The brain is the most membrane-rich tissue in the body so it should not surprise us too much that brain function is altered by an inadequate supply of the right fatty acids for nerve cells. The retina of the eye is also a very membrane-rich tissue and contains particularly large amounts of DHA in the rod cells. Nearly all the AA and DHA in tissues has been made by the body from LA and ALA in the diet. Few foods provide AA and DHA ready-formed. Meats provide a little AA and fish - particularly oily fish like mackerel, salmon and tuna - provide both AA and DHA.
Link to Learning Disorders
In the past few years, several research projects have helped highlight the relationship between essential fatty acids and learning disorders.
I started research in this area because I noticed in my own family, where there are many with dyslexia, those who had been breast fed longest were least affected by their dyslexia. It is important to note, however, that breastfeeding doesn't protect someone with a family predisposition forever.
As young infants have a very limited capacity to convert LA and ALA, they need large amounts of AA and DHA (which breast milk and some infant formulas provide) for the rapid growth and visual development that occurs early in life.
Fish Oil Helps
My research on young adults with and without dyslexia showed that dyslexics have poor dark adaptation, which is a function of the DHA-rich rod cells of the retina. However, supplementation with a high-DHA fish oil restored dark adaptation to normal. The rod cells are the photoreceptors for the magnocellular pathway, which has been shown to be defective in dyslexia. While improving the function of the receptor doesn't necessary mean central processing deficits will be helped as well, it's likely that this is the case. Synapse membranes - the junction between nerve cells - contain high concentrations of DHA and AA, and these fatty acids are important for efficient conduction of messages from one nerve cell to another.
Studies have shown that children with ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia have lower than normal levels of the two key fatty acids, Docoshexaenoic acid (DHA) and Arachidonic acid (AA). Evidence suggests that this deficiency is caused by an inability to convert dietary essential fatty acids (EFAs) into these Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LC-PUFAs). These PUFAs are the most abundant fatty acids in the eye and brain and are required for normal function. A nutritionally complete diet that includes DHA, AA and Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) that is a building block of AA, may play a vital role in the development of vision, learning ability and co-ordination.
B. Jacqueline Stordy, BSc Nutrition, PhD
Reproduced from: Alive/Canada's Healthy Living Guide
Another view....
More information:
www.efamol.com/ www.equazen.com/ www.bfff.co.uk www.nutrition.org.uk
