What role do fatty acids play in child brain health and academic success?

New European study links EPA and DHA levels with enhanced reading and writing abilities through neurocognitive mechanisms

SFI Health EMEA, a regional division of Australia-headquartered natural healthcare specialist SFI Health, has announced encouraging findings from a preliminary clinical investigation examining the effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, or LCPUFAs, on literacy skills in children. Conducted in partnership with the Italian research institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, operated by the nonprofit association La Nostra Famiglia, the study sought to understand how omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, affect reading and writing abilities through specific brain processes involved in learning.

Published in the journal Biomedicine, the findings underscore the growing scientific interest in the role of nutrition—especially fatty acids—in supporting cognitive development and academic performance. The research was part of a larger initiative investigating how omega-3 and omega-6 LCPUFA supplementation might enhance outcomes in children diagnosed with developmental dyslexia, a learning disorder marked by difficulties in accurate and fluent word recognition, spelling, and decoding.

With this research, SFI Health has reinforced its strategy of combining clinical-grade science with naturally sourced ingredients to support brain health. The company has operations in more than 50 countries and offers a portfolio of products targeting cognition, microbiome health, and overall well-being.

What was the objective behind this omega-3 literacy trial?

The study focused on identifying the neurocognitive systems that mediate the relationship between omega-3 fatty acid levels in the blood and children’s literacy skills. Previous research has found that individuals with dyslexia tend to have lower concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), with such deficiencies linked to poorer reading and writing performance. However, the underlying brain processes that explain these associations had not been sufficiently mapped until now.

Researchers at IRCCS Eugenio Medea recruited 74 school-aged children with a range of reading and writing abilities, from typical literacy development to those formally diagnosed with developmental dyslexia. The children underwent a broad neuropsychological assessment covering visual and auditory processing, phonological awareness, attention regulation, and executive functioning. Special emphasis was placed on magnocellular pathways, which are known to play a role in visual and auditory motion detection and are thought to be altered in dyslexia.

Three neuropsychological factors emerged from the data: auditory-phonological processing (AP), visual-perceptual processing (VP), and visual-attentional processing (VA). Using Generalized Linear Model mediation analysis, researchers evaluated whether these factors acted as intermediaries between omega-3 fatty acid levels and literacy outcomes. The analysis also considered the role of other polyunsaturated fatty acids, including arachidonic acid (AA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), to better understand the influence of PUFA balance on brain function.

Which brain pathways showed the strongest impact from EPA and DHA?

According to the study, higher blood levels of EPA and DHA were significantly associated with better reading and writing skills. Auditory-phonological processing emerged as the strongest mediating factor linking omega-3 LCPUFAs to literacy performance. This cognitive mechanism is responsible for analyzing the sound structure of language, such as phoneme recognition and decoding—skills foundational to reading fluency and comprehension.

EPA levels, in particular, showed a robust relationship with auditory processing tasks, indicating its potential role in supporting phonological function in the developing brain. DHA also influenced literacy performance, especially when analyzed in the context of the ratio between arachidonic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. The balance among these fatty acids, rather than their absolute levels, appeared to shape the strength and direction of the cognitive effects observed.

Dr. Maria Luisa Lorusso, a senior researcher and child neuropsychologist at IRCCS Eugenio Medea, stated that the findings highlight how omega-3 fatty acids modulate specific brain functions critical to literacy acquisition. She noted that these effects are particularly mediated by auditory-phonological mechanisms and emphasized the importance of overall PUFA balance in determining net cognitive benefit.

Why are these findings significant for future dyslexia interventions?

The implications of this research extend beyond academic curiosity. Developmental dyslexia affects an estimated 5 to 10 percent of children globally, and interventions typically rely on behavioral therapies such as phonics-based reading instruction. While effective, these approaches are resource-intensive and often fail to fully remediate the condition.

The results from the SFI Health–supported trial suggest that optimizing omega-3 fatty acid intake—either through diet or supplementation—could serve as a complementary intervention to existing treatments. By targeting the underlying neurocognitive systems that facilitate reading, such an approach may offer a biologically grounded strategy to enhance outcomes in children with dyslexia.

Matthew Brabazon, General Manager at SFI Health EMEA, said that the company considers the findings a milestone in its mission to combine science-based rigor with natural healthcare. He noted that SFI Health has consistently partnered with research institutions worldwide to explore the therapeutic potential of natural-source ingredients, particularly in areas like cognition and child development.

How does this study compare with prior research on omega-3 and cognition?

Omega-3 fatty acids have long been associated with benefits for brain health, particularly in areas such as memory, attention, and emotional regulation. However, clinical studies evaluating their role in academic performance and learning disorders have produced mixed results.

One of the main reasons for these inconsistencies is the absence of clearly defined biological pathways through which omega-3s influence cognition. This new study addresses that gap by identifying auditory-phonological processing as a key mediator and offering a plausible mechanism for the observed effects. By doing so, it contributes to a growing consensus that personalized nutrition—tailored to an individual’s cognitive profile and metabolic status—may hold promise in the management of learning difficulties.

Researchers also emphasized the importance of considering the ratios among various polyunsaturated fatty acids, rather than focusing solely on supplementing EPA or DHA in isolation. This approach aligns with broader trends in nutritional neuroscience that prioritize balance and bioavailability over one-size-fits-all formulations.

What are the next steps for research and product innovation?

While the results are encouraging, the authors caution that further randomized controlled trials are necessary to determine whether increasing omega-3 intake can directly enhance literacy outcomes. Future studies may include larger sample sizes, placebo controls, and longitudinal tracking to evaluate how sustained PUFA optimization affects reading and writing development over time.

In the meantime, SFI Health has signaled its intent to support additional collaborative research that could bridge the gap between early-stage findings and real-world product applications. The company operates with a pharmaceutical-grade development framework for its natural health products and has prioritized areas such as cognition, microbiome regulation, and mood support for pipeline expansion.

The IRCCS Eugenio Medea institute, known for integrating clinical care with advanced research in pediatric neuropsychiatry, is also expected to play a continued role in exploring biologically based interventions for learning disorders. Its operating model spans rehabilitation centers across Lecco, Treviso, and Udine, and remains committed to improving the lives of children with neurological challenges.

For now, this preliminary study provides a strong scientific foundation for future exploration into how diet and targeted supplementation could become part of a multi-modal solution to support literacy development in children with learning difficulties.

What are the key takeaways from the SFI Health–Medea study on omega-3s and literacy?

• The new study, published in Biomedicine, found a strong association between omega-3 fatty acid levels (specifically EPA and DHA) and improved reading and writing skills in children.

• Conducted by IRCCS Eugenio Medea under La Nostra Famiglia, the trial focused on identifying which neurocognitive systems mediate the effects of these fatty acids on literacy outcomes.

• Auditory-phonological processing was identified as the most significant cognitive pathway linking omega-3 LCPUFA levels with literacy performance.

• EPA levels were particularly correlated with improved phonological processing, while DHA influenced literacy outcomes depending on its balance with other fatty acids like arachidonic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.

• SFI Health EMEA supported the trial as part of its broader strategy to advance natural healthcare solutions grounded in clinical science.

• Researchers emphasized that PUFA balance—not just high omega-3 levels—is key to maximizing cognitive benefit in children with learning difficulties.

• The study provides a foundation for future randomized trials exploring whether PUFA supplementation could serve as an effective adjunct treatment for developmental dyslexia.

• Both SFI Health and IRCCS Eugenio Medea have signaled continued investment in bridging nutritional science and cognitive therapy through collaborative research.