Four children whose brains and mental abilities were suddenly transformed after they took a simple dietary supplement have astonished scientists.

Scans showed their brains underwent three years’ of development in just three months. At the same time they displayed remarkable improvements in tests of reading, concentration, problem-solving and memory. One boy who previously scorned books and was hooked on TV developed a love of reading and declared he was “bored” of television.

The three boys and one girl, aged between eight and 13, were taking part in a pilot study looking at the effects of diet on developing young brains. Scientists believe the results are powerful evidence of the harm “junk food” is doing to Britain’s children.

The children were given a supplement containing a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, and encouraged to cut down on fatty snacks and fizzy drinks and be more active. At the end, they underwent brain scans at St George’s Hospital, London, in a machine that can detect a key biochemical indicator of brain development called NAA (N-Acetylaspartate).

Higher levels of NAA correspond to more nerve fibres growing in the brain. Researchers from Imperial College London claimed that the results were astonishing and that they saw as much growth in NAA in three months as you would normally see in three years.

Just fifteen minutes of brisk activity a day could halve the risk of children becoming obese, say researchers. They discovered a small amount of moderate exercise could have far reaching benefits.

The number of fat children has doubled in ten years with one in four aged 11-15 now classified as obese. Almost half of girls are obese or overweight. Junk food, sedentary lifestyles and the couch potato use of TV as an ‘electronic babysitter’ are blamed for creating the problem. At the same time, levels of inactivity have soared as many children no longer take part in competitive sports at school and playing fields have been sold off.

The Bristol University Children of the 90s research project monitored 5,500 12-year-olds. It found 15 minutes of extra activity per day cut the risk of becoming obese by more than half in boys and at least 40 per cent in girls.

This study provides some of the first robust evidence on the link between physical activity and obesity in children. We know that diet is important – but what this research tells us is that we mustn’t forget about activity. It’s surprising how even small amounts of exercise appear to have dramatic results. In the latest study, published in March 2007 in the journal PLoS (Public Library of Science) Medicine, children were given a monitor to wear for up to a week which kept track of their movements. The research showed that the level of intensity of the activity was critical.

Moderate to vigorous activity was much more effective, which means exercise that makes a child get a little out of breath, but the study also indicated that it may be something quite small that makes a difference – such as how children get to school, whether they are walking, cycling or being driven in a car.

More than seven million people in Britain have long-term health problems linked to arthritis. The Arthritis Research Campaign estimates that more than 550,000 men and women have evidence of moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knees.

Now a daily dose of vitamin D is being used to protect knees affected by osteoarthritis. Doctors involved in a clinical trial believe the vitamin may prevent or slow the breakdown of cartilage, the protective inner lining of joints that becomes damaged by the disease, resulting in pain and inflammation.

Previous research has shown people with severe arthritis of the knee have lower levels of vitamin D. The 140 patients involved in the new trial, aged 49 and over, will be given either 50mg of vitamin D a day or a placebo over two years. During and after the trial, cartilage loss will be measured, as well as levels of pain and movement. ‘There is evidence that vitamin D supplementation, a simple and cheap intervention, may prove useful in slowing the progression of osteoarthritis,’ say researchers leading the trial at the New England Medical Centre, in the U.S. You can take vitamin D in liquid form which is easier than taking a capsule or tablet. Call 0845 8800915 for more information.