Eating more fish may lead to better sleep, higher IQ in children
Children who eat fish at least once a week may sleep better and have higher IQ scores, on average, than those who consume fish less frequently or not at all, according a study published in Scientific Reports.
Children who eat fish at least once a week may sleep better and have higher IQ scores, on average, than those who consume fish less frequently or not at all, according a study published in Scientific Reports. Previous studies showed a relationship between omega-3s, the fatty acids in many types of fish, and improved intelligence, as well as omega-3s and better sleep. But they’ve never all been connected before. This study reveals sleep as a possible mediating pathway, the potential missing link between fish and intelligence.
For the study, a cohort of 541 children aged 9–11 in China completed a questionnaire about how often they consumed fish in the past month, with options ranging from “never” to “at least once per week.” They also took the Chinese version of an IQ test called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, which examines verbal and non-verbal skills such as vocabulary and coding.
Their parents then answered questions about sleep quality using the standardized Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire, which included topics such as sleep duration and frequency of night waking or daytime sleepiness. Finally, the researchers controlled for demographic information, including the number of children in the home and parental education, occupation, and marital status.
The researchers found that children who reported eating fish weekly scored 4.8 points higher on the IQ exams than those who said they “seldom” or “never” consumed fish. Those whose meals sometimes included fish scored 3.3 points higher. In addition, increased fish consumption was associated with fewer disturbances of sleep, which the researchers say indicates better overall sleep quality.
Given the young age of this study group, the researchers chose not to analyze the details participants reported about the types of fish consumed, though they plan to do so for work on an older cohort in the future. The researchers also want to add to this current observational study to establish, through randomized controlled trials, that eating fish can lead to better sleep and better school performance.