Fatty Acids & Sleep.pdf

The DOLAB study investigated the relationship between fatty acids and sleep in UK children. The study consisted of two stages: an epidemiological study and a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Epidemiological Study

395 healthy children aged 7-9 years from mainstream UK schools participated.
Blood fatty acid concentrations were measured using fingerstick blood samples.
Subjective sleep was assessed using an age-standardized parent questionnaire.
Results showed that 40% of children had clinical-level sleep problems.
Poorer sleep quality was associated with lower blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels and a lower DHA:arachidonic acid ratio.

Randomized Controlled Trial

362 children who were underperforming in reading received either 600 mg/day of algal DHA or a placebo for 16 weeks.
Subjective sleep measures showed no significant effects of DHA supplementation.
In a subsample of 43 children, objective sleep was assessed using actigraphy.
* Results showed that DHA supplementation led to an average of 7 fewer wake episodes and 58 minutes more sleep per night.

Conclusion

Higher blood levels of DHA may be associated with better sleep in children. Pilot objective evidence from actigraphy suggests that DHA supplementation may improve sleep, but further investigations are needed to confirm these findings.