Several studies published recently have suggested that intake of n-3 fatty acids may influence certain cognitive outcomes in certain populations. This was demonstrated in a group of children with develoment coordination disorder by Richardson & Montgomery (2005). However, whether or not these effects can be found in typically developing children remains an interesting hypothesis.

We propose undertaking a statistical analysis of Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) data gathered from children at 7yrs of age and cognitive measures gathered at around the same age (or slightly older). The aim of this analysis is to investigate potential relationships between reported intake of fish (and therefore n-3 fatty acids) and performance on specific cognitive tasks. The specific cognitive measures we are interested in are listed in the table below.

We will also need data from previous parent questionnaires in order to control for 28 confounding variables identified in a previous study examining mother's intake of fish during pregnancy and childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes (Hibbeln, Davis, Steer, Emmett, Rogers, Williams & Golding, 2007).

We further propose to investigate the relationship between reported dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and the fatty acid profile of the children's blood samples and whether or not the fatty acid profile of the blood samples correlates with performance on the cognitive measures. This will be subject to availability of the data within the time scale. We understand that the sample analysis is being undertaken in the labs of Dr Joseph Hibbeln at NIH in Washington DC and that the work has commenced and will be available during 2008. Therefore this work will be subject to availablity of the results within the timescale of this project.