Aim: Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between antioxidant enzymes and various oxidants. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the effect of omega-3 on oxidants and antioxidants may support development in children with borderline growth delay. Population and Methods: 26 children with borderline growth delay were the patient group (between 2 and 9.5 years of age) and 30 healthy children with normal development were the control group. Patient group were given fish oil treatment for 4-weeks. All oxidant/antioxidant parameters were analyzed before and after treatment. Results: Prior to fish oil treatment, the levels of catalase antioxidants in the patient group were higher than those in the control group (p=0.013) while glutathione peroxidase levels were lower (p=0.0001). There were no differences in levels of xanthine oxidase and nitric oxide oxidants; malondialdehyde and nitric oxide synthase levels were higher (p=0.002; p=0.0001) compared to the control group prior to treatment. A decrease in catalase and an increase in glutathione peroxidase levels were detected in the patient group subsequent to the fish oil treatment. Xanthine oxidase levels increased (p=0.031) while malondialdehyde levels fell with treatment compared to the control group. Patient group’s glutathione peroxidase levels also increased following treatment (p=0.0001) while a significant decrease was observed in oxidant of nitric oxide synthase levels (p=0.002). Conclusions: The use of fish oil supplementation was observed to contribute effectively to a reduction in oxidant stress while, at the same time, recovering antioxidant balance.

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