Courtesy of NIH

Children need a diet that is rich in essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 acids to get the best results when they are growing, according to a recent discussion with a nutritionist.

'€œThe omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important for children'€™s brain growth. This will have an effect on their intelligence,'€ nutritionist Ratna Djuwita from the School of Public Health at the University of Indonesia said at a recent discussion.

While essential fatty acids, also called unsaturated fatty acids, are essential to health; they cannot be manufactured by a person'€™s body. People need to eat the right foods to obtain the unsaturated fatty acids.

The fats help build cells, regulate the nervous system, strengthen the cardiovascular system, build immunity and help the body to absorb nutrients. They are also vital for healthy brain function and vision.

Essential fatty acids include omega-3 (alpha-Linolenic acid) and omega-6 (Linoleic acid). Both are polyunsaturated fats that help lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation and keep the heart healthy.

Fish, in particular salmon, herring and mackerel, are excellent sources of essential fatty acids. Other sources are hemp, flax, walnuts, almonds, dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli or spinach, olive oil, whole grain foods and eggs.

Essential fatty acids are used to build the walls of cells, among other things. NIH

However, it is not clear how many parents in Indonesia feed their children foods that are rich in essential fatty acids on daily basis.

One recent meta-survey said that the average child in Indonesia was not getting enough essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 acids, on a daily basis, according to World Health Organization standards.

The research, sponsored by Unilever Indonesia in collaboration with Ratna, analyzed the government'€™s Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) report from 2010.

Researchers analyzed the report'€™s data for 43,000 respondents aged between four and 12 from 13 provinces, looking at their consumption of a basket of 118 specific foods.

According to Ratna, the average Indonesian child'€™s daily intake of EFAs was only at 68 percent of the WHO'€™s recommended standard; average daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids was only 39 percent, while omega-6 fatty acid intake was on par.

Nevertheless, Ratna said that the intake of omega-6 fatty acids in Indonesia is still uneven and that children still needed to eat more foods with essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, on a daily basis.

'€œThe research suggests [stakeholders start] a public health initiative in raising people'€™s awareness about the importance of essential fatty acid intake on daily basis in order to meet the WHO'€™s recommendation,'€ said Ratna.

While there is no specific symptom indicating a child is not getting enough essential fatty acids; severely malnourished children, who typically have EFL-deficient diets, will have dry skin and falling hair, among other symptoms.

'€œA lack of essential fatty acids will surely deter growth,'€ said Ratna.

The nutritionist said that, according most respondents got their essential fatty acids from tempeh, tofu, peanuts, fish, chicken meat, milk or eggs.

'€œThe variety in food is good enough, but [respondents] were still lacking of decent quantity,'€ Ratna said.

To boost a child'€™s fatty acids intake, Ratna said that parents provide children with more of the foods listed above, as well as avocado and margarine.

Parents might also replace a beef at the dinner table with fish for at least one meal a week, or add walnuts to dishes such as oatmeal in the morning, or eat some almonds as an afternoon snack, she said.