Does EPA promote precocious puberty

EPA generally does not directly promote precocious puberty, but excessive intake may disrupt endocrine balance. EPA belongs to Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly affecting lipid metabolism and inflammation regulation, with weak association with sex hormones. The occurrence of precocious puberty is mainly related to genetic factors, environmental endocrine disruptors, obesity, and other factors. EPA, as an essential fatty acid for the human body, moderate intake can help promote the development of the nervous system and immune function in children. The daily intake of EPA from foods such as fish and flaxseed is usually safe, and studies have shown that regular dietary sources do not significantly affect sex hormone levels. The recommended daily intake of EPA for children should be controlled within a reasonable range, and specific adjustments should be made based on factors such as age and weight. In rare cases, long-term high-dose use of EPA supplements may indirectly disrupt endocrine function by affecting prostaglandin metabolism pathways. Especially when children are exposed to other environmental hormones or have obesity problems, they need to be alert to the combined effects of multiple factors. There have been case reports in clinical practice showing that children who received excessive supplementation of EPA and DHA experienced abnormal breast development, but the causal relationship is not yet clear.

It is recommended that parents prioritize supplementing their children with EPA through natural foods to avoid blindly using high concentration fish oil preparations. If a child develops secondary sexual characteristics prematurely, the possible causes of central or peripheral precocious puberty should be promptly investigated, rather than simply attributed to EPA intake. It is more important to maintain a diversified diet in daily life, control the weekly intake frequency of deep-sea fish, and regularly monitor the growth and development curve of children.