DHA in infant milk formula
What is DHA?
Docosahexaenoic acid, also known as DHA, is an omega-3 fatty acid. Fish and other seafood provide large levels of omega-3 fatty acids. It supports the development of the brain and eyes, making it a crucial nutrient for babies and young children.
Why is DHA important for babies?
DHA promotes the growth of the nervous system and the brain in the early years. Clinical studies have shown that DHA supports several cognitive abilities, visual acuity, and general brain development in infants. Due to its presence in breast milk and significance before and after delivery, DHA is also present in several infant formula and prenatal supplements. When a baby outgrows infant formula, DHA may still be a crucial nutrient because throughout the first three years of life as the brain expands to 85% of its adult size.
DHA levels in breast milk
Between 0.06 to 1.4% of the weight of breast milk, DHA concentration varies more than 20-fold between human populations. The highest values are seen in milk from women who regularly consume fish items, whereas the lowest values are found in milk from moms who consume little to no preformed sources of DHA (such as fatty fish) in their diets. The concentration that promotes the best outcomes for infants is currently being researched, even though it is generally recognized that milk with no (or very little) DHA affects baby health, particularly visual and cognitive development.
How much DHA should nursing mothers eat?
Luxwolda makes use of the inherent range of variation in DHA concentration in breast milk in their recently published study. They conducted their investigations on four Tanzanian populations that differ in their intake of freshwater fish and consequently DHA (Maasai = no fish; Pare = 2-3 servings/week; Sengerema = 4-5 servings/week; Ukerewe = >7 servings/week) rather than conducting randomized controlled trials on infants consuming formulas with various milk DHA levels.
They were particularly interested in the relationship between maternal and new-born status, as measured by the amount of DHA present in red blood cells (g% fatty acids RBC-DHA), and the amount of DHA present in breast milk. As a result of various experiments, the optimal amount of DHA was found to be around 200 mg for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. The pregnant or nursing mothers can go up to 1000 mg of DHA in their daily diet for preventing many complications.
Adding DHA to Formula
Infant formula’s composition is intended to be as similar to breast milk’s as feasible. One of the most erratic fatty acids in human milk, DHA is strongly impacted by the mother’s diet in terms of content. The current recommendations for DHA content in infant formula range from 0.2-0.5% (g DHA/100 g of total fatty acids), which most nearly matches the levels found in breast milk from moms. New-born mothers who have some difficulties in breastfeeding prefer to go with formula infused with DHA.
Optimal Amount of DHA
It is all too simple to slip into the misconception that more DHA must be better if some DHA is beneficial. We tend to forget that it is possible to have too much of a good thing since we are so familiar with diseases and syndromes that are brought on by nutritional deficits. DHA reduces platelet aggregation, hence consuming too much of it may result in excessive bleeding.
DHA deficiency and its effects
Fetal alcohol syndrome, ADHD, cystic fibrosis, phenylketonuria, unipolar depression, aggressive hostility, and adrenoleukodystrophy are all linked to DHA deficiency. DHA levels in the brain are known to decrease with age and are linked to the start of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Diseases like hypertension, arthritis, atherosclerosis, depression, adult-onset diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, thrombosis, and several malignancies respond well to DHA supplementation.
Side effects of Overconsumption of DHA
Most people are probably safe to consume DHA. It has been used for up to four years in children. The majority of adverse effects are minor and relate to the stomach and intestines. However, no more than 3 grams of DHA or other omega-3 fatty acids should be consumed by individuals each day, and no more than 2 grams should be obtained from dietary supplements. It may not be safe to consume more than 3 grams of DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids every day. This could hinder blood clotting and raise the risk of bleeding.
How do we measure the amount of DHA in the body?
The amount of DHA typically found in the body’s cell membranes is estimated by researchers by measuring the percentage of DHA in red blood cell membranes (RBC-DHA). For adult cardiac and mental health (e.g., decreased incidence of cardio-vascular illness, depression), RBC-DHA of 8 g% fatty acids are deemed ideal (2, 4, 10).
For a variety of reasons, DHA is a crucial component of your baby’s diet. Ensure that your child is getting enough DHA to support their growth. As mentioned above, overconsumption of DHA also results in a few side effects. So keep the DHA levels in your kid at an optimum level for their balanced growth.
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If you’re not getting enough DHA from your diet, your doctor may recommend a DHA supplement. Pregnant women are advised to take a prenatal vitamin containing at least 200 mg of DHA after consulting their doctor. Ideally, a woman should start taking her DHA supplement three months before she plans to conceive for optimal effect. The breastmilk offers the ideal amount of DHA to the babies. If you are substituting breast milk for formula, be sure to go with the one that has ideal DHA levels to support your baby’s development.