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A new study claims that daily supplements of omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood, some algae and plants could help boost the performance in children with poor reading skills.

For the study, scientists at Oxford University recruited 362 children between the age of 7 and 9, and administered 600mg omega-3 fatty acid pills for 16 weeks.

Although there wasn't any significant effect seen by the researchers in the overall study sample, it was found that children at lowest fifth of the normal range, displayed improvement in their reading age by three weeks when compared to the children who were taking a placebo.

And in children whose initial reading skills were in the lowest 10 per cent, there was an improvement by 40 days. 

"Our results showed that taking daily supplements of omega-3 DHA improved reading performance for the poorest readers (those in the lowest fifth of the normal range) and helped these children to catch up with their peer group," Dr Alex Richardson, a senior research fellow at the Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention at Oxford University was quoted as saying by Mail Online.

Walnuts, flaxseeds, beans, fish, olive oil and winter squash are rich in omega-3.

"Previous studies have shown benefits from dietary supplementation with omega-3 in children with conditions such as ADHD, Dyslexia and Developmental Coordination Disorder, but this is the first study to show such positive results in children from the general school population," Paul Montgomery, Professor of Psychosocial Intervention at the Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention at Oxford University, said.

However, it seems that in spite of the parents reporting lessened behavioral problems, the teachers felt otherwise and there was no such improvement as less hyperactivity and 'opposition-defiant behaviour' reported by them.

"People working with children, on the brain, expect the brain to be manipulated in a period of 16 weeks. It's a fundamental flaw," Michael Crawford at Imperial College London warned, according to the report.

The study was funded by DSM Nutritional Lipids which makes omega-3 supplements but carried out independently by Oxford University.