Do fatty acids help in overcoming reading difficulties? A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and carnosine supplementation on children with dyslexia.

Kairaluoma L, Närhi V, Ahonen T, Westerholm J, Aro M

Child: care, health and development28 Oct 2008Cited by 17 (Europe PMC)

PMID18991979DOI10.1111/j.1365-2214.2008.00881.xPepBankPUB-18991979

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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study8

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone8

In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking L-carnosine.

01HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In children with dyslexia, the EPA and carnosine supplement did not differ from placebo in reading accuracy.
In plain wordsIn children with dyslexia, reading accuracy did not differ between the EPA and carnosine supplement and placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeReading accuracy
Study
n = 61
Comparator
placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
No group differences were observed between EPA and placebo in measures of reading accuracy or speed, spelling, decoding fluency, arithmetical skills, reading-related language skills, attention or behavioural problems.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The experimental group (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, n = 30) ate dietary supplements and the control group (placebo, n = 31) placebos during the 90-day treatment period. The supplements contained omega-3 fatty acid (ethyl-EPA, 500 mg/day) and carnosine (400 mg/day).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Report a problemFND-1899197901
02HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In children with dyslexia, the EPA and carnosine supplement did not differ from placebo in reading speed.
In plain wordsIn children with dyslexia, reading speed did not differ between the EPA and carnosine supplement and placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeReading speed
Study
n = 61
Comparator
placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
No group differences were observed between EPA and placebo in measures of reading accuracy or speed, spelling, decoding fluency, arithmetical skills, reading-related language skills, attention or behavioural problems.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The experimental group (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, n = 30) ate dietary supplements and the control group (placebo, n = 31) placebos during the 90-day treatment period. The supplements contained omega-3 fatty acid (ethyl-EPA, 500 mg/day) and carnosine (400 mg/day).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Report a problemFND-1899197902
03HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In children with dyslexia, the EPA and carnosine supplement did not differ from placebo in spelling.
In plain wordsIn children with dyslexia, spelling did not differ between the EPA and carnosine supplement and placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeSpelling
Study
n = 61
Comparator
placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
No group differences were observed between EPA and placebo in measures of reading accuracy or speed, spelling, decoding fluency, arithmetical skills, reading-related language skills, attention or behavioural problems.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The experimental group (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, n = 30) ate dietary supplements and the control group (placebo, n = 31) placebos during the 90-day treatment period. The supplements contained omega-3 fatty acid (ethyl-EPA, 500 mg/day) and carnosine (400 mg/day).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Report a problemFND-1899197903
04HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In children with dyslexia, the EPA and carnosine supplement did not differ from placebo in decoding fluency.
In plain wordsIn children with dyslexia, decoding fluency did not differ between the EPA and carnosine supplement and placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeDecoding fluency
Study
n = 61
Comparator
placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
No group differences were observed between EPA and placebo in measures of reading accuracy or speed, spelling, decoding fluency, arithmetical skills, reading-related language skills, attention or behavioural problems.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The experimental group (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, n = 30) ate dietary supplements and the control group (placebo, n = 31) placebos during the 90-day treatment period. The supplements contained omega-3 fatty acid (ethyl-EPA, 500 mg/day) and carnosine (400 mg/day).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Report a problemFND-1899197904
05HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In children with dyslexia, the EPA and carnosine supplement did not differ from placebo in arithmetical skills.
In plain wordsIn children with dyslexia, arithmetical skills did not differ between the EPA and carnosine supplement and placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeArithmetical skills
Study
n = 61
Comparator
placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
No group differences were observed between EPA and placebo in measures of reading accuracy or speed, spelling, decoding fluency, arithmetical skills, reading-related language skills, attention or behavioural problems.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The experimental group (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, n = 30) ate dietary supplements and the control group (placebo, n = 31) placebos during the 90-day treatment period. The supplements contained omega-3 fatty acid (ethyl-EPA, 500 mg/day) and carnosine (400 mg/day).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Report a problemFND-1899197905
06HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In children with dyslexia, the EPA and carnosine supplement did not differ from placebo in reading-related language skills.
In plain wordsIn children with dyslexia, reading-related language skills did not differ between the EPA and carnosine supplement and placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeReading-related language skills
Study
n = 61
Comparator
placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
No group differences were observed between EPA and placebo in measures of reading accuracy or speed, spelling, decoding fluency, arithmetical skills, reading-related language skills, attention or behavioural problems.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The experimental group (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, n = 30) ate dietary supplements and the control group (placebo, n = 31) placebos during the 90-day treatment period. The supplements contained omega-3 fatty acid (ethyl-EPA, 500 mg/day) and carnosine (400 mg/day).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Report a problemFND-1899197906
07HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In children with dyslexia, the EPA and carnosine supplement did not differ from placebo in attention.
In plain wordsIn children with dyslexia, attention did not differ between the EPA and carnosine supplement and placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeAttention
Study
n = 61
Comparator
placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
No group differences were observed between EPA and placebo in measures of reading accuracy or speed, spelling, decoding fluency, arithmetical skills, reading-related language skills, attention or behavioural problems.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The experimental group (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, n = 30) ate dietary supplements and the control group (placebo, n = 31) placebos during the 90-day treatment period. The supplements contained omega-3 fatty acid (ethyl-EPA, 500 mg/day) and carnosine (400 mg/day).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Report a problemFND-1899197907
08HumanNot a test of L-carnosine aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In children with dyslexia, the EPA and carnosine supplement did not differ from placebo in behavioural problems.
In plain wordsIn children with dyslexia, behavioural problems did not differ between the EPA and carnosine supplement and placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeBehavioural problems
Study
n = 61
Comparator
placebo
Outcome group
Locomotor and behavioral activity · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
No group differences were observed between EPA and placebo in measures of reading accuracy or speed, spelling, decoding fluency, arithmetical skills, reading-related language skills, attention or behavioural problems.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The experimental group (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, n = 30) ate dietary supplements and the control group (placebo, n = 31) placebos during the 90-day treatment period. The supplements contained omega-3 fatty acid (ethyl-EPA, 500 mg/day) and carnosine (400 mg/day).
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Report a problemFND-1899197908

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
27 Oct 2026, 18:20 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
27 Oct 2026, 16:32 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

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