DHA speeds visual development in breast-fed infants

Related tags Dha Docosahexaenoic acid Nutrition Omega-3 fatty acid

Baby food fortified with the omega-3 fatty acid DHA speeds up
visual development in breast-fed infants, report researchers this
month.

Between six and 12 months, blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in breast-fed infants tends to drop due to lower DHA stores in mothers and the introduction of DHA-poor solid foods to replace human milk, say the researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

In a randomized, clinical trial they investigated whether taking supplemental DHA in solid foods could improve the visual development of around 50 breast-fed infants.

At six months the infants were randomly assigned to receive either 1 jar (113 g) of baby food containing egg yolk enriched with DHA (115 mg DHA/100 g food) or a control baby food everyday.

Although many infants in both groups continued to be breast-fed, blood levels of DHA decreased significantly between six and 12 months of age (from 3.8 to 3.0 g/100 g total fatty acids) in control infants. In the DHA group, however, levels increased by 34 per cent from 4.1 to 5.5g/100g, report the researchers in this month's Journal of Nutrition​ (134:2307-2313).

Measures of the development of the retina and visual cortex, using visual-evoked potential (VEP) acuity, the researchers found them to correlate with DHA levels, supporting the need of an adequate dietary supply of DHA throughout the first year of life for neural development, they write.

These results are the latest in a series of studies that demonstrate the importance of DHA in the development of infants and children. Most leading formula makers already offer DHA-enriched versions.

Previously, children whose mothers took supplements of docosahexaenoic acid for the first four months of breastfeeding were found to perform better in attention tests than those without supplements, according to research presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies' Meeting in San Francisco this year.

Related topics Health and nutritional ingredients

Related products

show more

Replacement Isn't the Future. Variety Is.

Replacement Isn't the Future. Variety Is.

Content provided by ADM | 22-Mar-2024 | White Paper

Successfully navigating the intersection of food and technology can help your business meet evolving consumer demands.

Consumer Attitudes on Ultra-Processed Foods Revealed

Consumer Attitudes on Ultra-Processed Foods Revealed

Content provided by Ayana Bio | 12-Jan-2024 | White Paper

Ayana Bio conducted the Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) Pulse survey, offering insight into consumers’ willingness to consume UPFs, as well as the variables...

Future Food-Tech San Francisco, March 21-22, 2024

Future Food-Tech San Francisco, March 21-22, 2024

Content provided by Rethink Events Ltd | 11-Jan-2024 | Event Programme

Future Food-Tech is the go-to meeting place for the food-tech industry to collaborate towards a healthier food system for people and planet.

Palate Predictions: Top Flavor Trends for 2024

Palate Predictions: Top Flavor Trends for 2024

Content provided by T. Hasegawa USA | 08-Jan-2024 | Application Note

As consumers seek increased value and experience from food and beverages, the industry relies on research to predict category trends. Studying trends that...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars