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Marine Drugs
Volume 24
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10.3390/md24040139
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Review

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

by
Maria Dimopoulou
1,
Stavroula Savvidi
2,
Panagiotis Madesis
1,
Aliki Dimopoulou
3,
Dimitrios Stagos
2 and
Olga Gortzi
1,4,*
1
Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agriculture Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece
2
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece
3
Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
4
POSS-Driving Innovation in Functional Foods PCC, Sarantaporou 17, 54640 Thessaloniki, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Mar. Drugs 2026, 24(4), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/md24040139
Submission received: 8 February 2026 / Revised: 8 April 2026 / Accepted: 13 April 2026 / Published: 15 April 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Marine Natural Products in Brain Health and Metabolic Diseases, 2nd Edition)
Versions Notes

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.
Keywords: οmega-3 fatty acids; childhood; cognitive performance; learning outcomes; autism spectrum disorder; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder οmega-3 fatty acids; childhood; cognitive performance; learning outcomes; autism spectrum disorder; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

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MDPI and ACS Style

Dimopoulou, M.; Savvidi, S.; Madesis, P.; Dimopoulou, A.; Stagos, D.; Gortzi, O. 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. Mar. Drugs 2026, 24, 139. https://doi.org/10.3390/md24040139

AMA Style

Dimopoulou M, Savvidi S, Madesis P, Dimopoulou A, Stagos D, Gortzi O. 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. Marine Drugs. 2026; 24(4):139. https://doi.org/10.3390/md24040139

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dimopoulou, Maria, Stavroula Savvidi, Panagiotis Madesis, Aliki Dimopoulou, Dimitrios Stagos, and Olga Gortzi. 2026. "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" Marine Drugs 24, no. 4: 139. https://doi.org/10.3390/md24040139

APA Style

Dimopoulou, M., Savvidi, S., Madesis, P., Dimopoulou, A., Stagos, D., & Gortzi, O. (2026). 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. Marine Drugs, 24(4), 139. https://doi.org/10.3390/md24040139

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