DHA’S ROLE IN INFANT DEVELOPMENT

 

Optimal nutrition for infants---both before and after birth---is an area of research that is still unfolding, and in many cases, the research has yielded unexpected results. One nutrient that has emerged as an important influence in both brain and visual development for infants is DHA---otherwise known as docosahexaenoic acid.

DHA and its partner EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are known as omega-3 fatty acids. Recently, the omega-3 fatty acids have received popular attention for their ability to lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels. They have also been credited with reducing blood pressure, preventing blood clots and possessing anti-inflammatory properties.-1

But DHA is especially critical in infant development. Research has shown that when infants receive reduced amounts of DHA, they have smaller brain development and may also have poorer visual responses to light.

How does an infant get DHA? Before a baby is born, omega-3 fatty acids are transported from mother’s blood to the placenta, where it is used for membrane development in the brain and retina. Therefore, the amount of omega-3 fatty acid in mother’s diet is the determining factor in how much DHA the baby will receive. After the baby is born, the primary source of DHA is breast milk.

Numerous studies show that babies who are breast-fed have better brain development than their bottle-fed counterparts.

A study in LANCET corroborated these findings.  After analyzing brain tissue of 22 babies who had died in their first 43 weeks, researchers noted significantly higher amounts of DHA in the brains of the breast-fed babies than in formula-fed babies.

“The mental apparatus of the coming generation is developed in (the womb) and the time to begin supplementation is before the conception. A normal brain cannot be made without an adequate supply of omega-3 fatty acids, and there may be no later opportunity to repair the effects of an omega-3 deficiency once the nervous system is formed.” --- William E. Connor, Oregon Health Sciences Center

Pregnant woman who eat fish give birth to more fully developed babies, who are less apt to be born premature or have low birth weight. This means they are born with more mature, highly developed brains.

Indeed, the most active period of brain cell division is in the first few weeks of embryonic development, almost before a woman knows she is pregnant. To get the optimal brain fats for developing fetus, it is best for a woman to start eating a diet high in fish oil long before she becomes pregnant.  

Pregnant and lactating women should be sure to get 300 milligrams per day of DHA, say experts.