Why DHA Is The Crucial Nutrient For A Baby

What is DHA? Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is an omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid derived from alpha-linolenic acid. It is a nutrient that has been studied for its role in heart, brain and eye health. Although it is found in most tissues throughout the body, the highest concentrations of DHA are in the brain, nervous system and the retina of the eye, and it helps support normal development in these areas. According to a research, high concentrations of DHA are found in the cerebral cortex of the brain. The brain is 60% fat, and DHA is the most abundant fatty acid in the brain, comprising 25-35%. DHA is found in even greater concentrations in the retina, i.e. 50-60%.

DHA plays an important role in cerebral development, especially during the crucial period of fetal development and infancy. Pregnant mothers transfer DHA directly to the fetus to support rapid brain and retina development of the infant. Studies have shown that DHA plays a major role in the mental development of infants and supports the mental function of children and adults throughout life. Low DHA levels have been linked to low brain serotonin levels which again are connected to an increased tendency to depression, suicide, and violence.

The best source of DHA for a baby is breast milk. A recent study found that breast fed children performed significantly better in cognitive and academic tests compared to children who were not breast fed. In fact, DHA is the most abundant omega-3 fatty acid in breast milk.

Maternal diet influences the level of DHA in breast milk. A study by the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas found that DHA supplements of 200 mg daily double the DHA content of nursing mothers’ milk relative to those who received placebo. The newborn baby must also continue to get enough DHA in breast milk or milk formula immediately after birth. Concentrations of DHA in breast milk have decreased by 50 percent in Canada and Australia over the past 15 years, according to studies.

An intake of approximately 300 mg DHA/day during lactation is considered as a reasonable target for ensuring the elevation of DHA in breast milk to at least 0.35% of total fatty acids. After the baby is born, if the mother is breastfeeding, the amount of DHA in breast milk will depend again on her dietary intake of this nutrient. DHA is found in the diet in high amounts in fatty fish (like tuna, mackerel, anchovies, salmon, herring, sardines) and in flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, canola oil, fish oil, and walnut oil.

A study concluded that the presence of DHA in breast milk explains why breast fed babies have a cognitive advantage over babies fed with infant formula containing no DHA. The study found that the breast fed children demonstrated an 8 point intellectual advantage when they were administered standard IQ tests.