Taken together , evidence suggests a positive association between healthy dietary consumption and executive functioning .
A systematic review was conducted to evaluate whether healthier dietary consumption  among children and adolescents impacts executive functioning .
Omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and higher-order cognitive functions in 7- to 9-y-olds: a cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND Biochemical and behavioral evidence has suggested that the ratio of n-6 ( omega-6 ) to n-3 ( omega-3 ) could be an important predictor of executive function abilities in children . OBJECTIVE We determined the relation between the ratio of n-6 to n-3 and  cognitive function in children . We hypothesized that children with lower ratios of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids would perform better on tests of planning and working memory . DESIGN Seventy 7- to 9-y-old children completed three 24-h diet recalls and a subset of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery .  Parents provided information on their demographics and children 's diet histories . RESULTS Mean n-3 and mean n-6 intakes were related to the mean time spent on each action taken in the planning problem . The ratio of n-6 to n-3 significantly predicted performance on the working memory and planning problems . There was a significant interaction between the ratio and fatty acid intake ; when children had high ratios , a higher intake of n-3 fatty acids predicted a better performance on the planning task than when children had lower n-3 intakes . When children had low ratios , a lower intake of n-3 and lower intake of n-6 predicted better performance than when intakes were higher . CONCLUSIONS The relation between cognitive abilities and the ratio of n-6 to n-3 may be mediated by an enzymatic affinity for n-3 fatty acids . The ratio of n-6 to n-3 should be considered an important factor in the study of fatty acids and cognitive development . This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT01823419
Taken together , evidence suggests a positive association between healthy dietary consumption and executive functioning .
A systematic review was conducted to evaluate whether healthier dietary consumption  among children and adolescents impacts executive functioning .