DHA

DHA – Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that is important to both mother and baby throughout pregnancy and while nursing. Why is DHA important? DHA is critical for brain, eye, and central nervous development and function. It is the principal structural fat that makes up the gray matter of the brain and the eye’s retina. However, DHA is not made by our bodies, it must be accumulated from diet or supplements.

There are not many sources of DHA in the average American diet. Fatty fish and animal organ meats are the primary sources of DHA. Current nutritional guidelines caution pregnant women to limit their consumption of fish due to concerns about mercury intake, so the problem is compounded.

A mother transfers most of the DHA needed for development to her baby during the third trimester when much of fetal brain, eye, and central nervous development occurs. The content of DHA in a mother’s diet will determine the amount of DHA passed on to the developing baby.

• A recent study showed that children whose mothers took a DHA supplement during pregnancy scored higher on intelligence tests at four years of age than children of mothers not taking DHA supplements. 1

• Some studies suggest breastfed babies have an IQ of 6-10 points higher than formula-fed babies. Medical and nutritional experts attribute this difference to the DHA infants receive while nursing. 2, 3, 4

• Visual acuity is positively affected through the intake of DHA while nursing.

• DHA may be linked to the length of gestation and may reduce the chances of preterm labor. In a trial of women receiving DHA supplementation during the third trimester, the average length of gestation increased six days. 5

• Increasing maternal levels of DHA may also reduce the chances of postpartum depression. Scientists have found low levels of DHA in mother’s milk and in the red blood cells of women with postpartum depression. 6 A mother may lose 3% of her brain mass during the third trimester as she is transferring DHA to her fetus. At six weeks postpartum, levels of DHA in new mothers remain lower than levels of non pregnant women.

A workshop at the National Institutes of Health recommended an adequate intake of 300 mg/day of DHA for pregnant and lactating women. 7 In a recent study of 112 pregnant or lactating women the average level of DHA intake was 54/mg day – 18% of the level recommended by experts.

Footnotes

1. Helland, I.B., et al. Maternal Supplementation with Very-Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acids During Pregnancy and Lactation Augments Children’s IQ at 4 Years of Age. Pediatrics 2003; 111 (1): e39-e44.

2. Willats P, et al. Effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant formula on problem solving at 10 months of age. Lancet 1998; 352: 688-91.

3. Horwood, L.J. and D.M. Fergusson. Breatfeeding and later cognitive and academic outcomes. Pediatrics. 1998; 101(1): E9

4. Lucas A, Stafford M, Morley R, et al. Efficacy and safety of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation of infant-formula milk: a randomized trial. Lancet. 1999; 354: 1948-1954

5. Smuts, C.M. et al. A randomized trial of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2003; 101 (3): 469-479.

6. Hibbeln, JR. Seafood consumption, the DHA content of mothers’ milk and prevalence rates of postpartum depression: a cross-national, ecological analysis. J Affect Disord. 2002; 69 (1-3): 15-29

7. Simopoulos, A.P., et al. Workshop on the essentiality of and recommended dietary intakes for omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 1999; 18 (5): 487-489.

8. Turner, E. et al. Comparing nutrient intake from food to the estimated average requirements shows middle to upper income pregnant women lack iron and possibly magnesium. JADA; April 2003: 103 pg 461-466.

9. Ibid

10. Perry, L. Iodine can help pregnant women fight thyroid disease. Drug Topics; Feb 2004; 148: 24.

11. Siega-Riz, A.M. et al. Vitamin C Deficiency on Pregnancy. Amer Journal of Obstetrics & Gyn.. Aug 2003: 189(2) 519-525.

12. Franz, K.B.. Magnesium Intake during Pregnancy. Magnesium 6; 1987: 18-27

13. Bucher, H.C. et al. Effect of calcium supplementation on pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA; April 1996: 275: 1113-1117.

14. Hertz-Picciotto I. Et al. Patterns and Determinants of Blood Lead During Pregnancy. Journal of Epidemiology; November 2000: 152 (9); 829-837.

15. Akyol, D. Maternal levels of vitamin E in normal and preeclamptic pregnancy. Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics; April 2000: 263 (4): 151-155.

16. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1996: 175: 793-799.