Effects of Consuming a Docosahexaenoic Acid-Enriched Milk Beverage on the Erythrocyte Omega-3 Index and Stress Index in Healthy Japanese Schoolchildren Aged 12 to 15 Years

抄録

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential to human health. DHA in particular plays an important role in the development and maintenance of the brain. As seafood consumption has decreased sharply in Japan, concerns have grown about brain growth and development in infants and school-aged children. It is therefore critical to investigate the effects of DHA/EPA intake on the brain functions of school-aged children. The International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids has proposed the erythrocyte omega-3 index as the standard measure of omega-3 fatty acid uptake. In this pilot study, we investigated the effects of consuming a DHA-enriched milk beverage fortified with 297 mg DHA and 137 mg EPA on the erythrocyte omega-3 and stress indices in schoolchildren. Intake of the DHA-enriched milk beverage for 12 wk led to an increase in the erythrocyte omega-3 index from 6.46% to 7.67% in children aged 12 to 15 y. Moreover, it led to a significant decrease in the “helplessness” score, which is an item on the stress response scale. These results suggest that daily intake of DHA, even in low amounts, could alleviate stress in school-aged children, potentially preventing various problematic behaviors.