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What the experts are saying:
According to the American Heart Association,"Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people, and those at high risk of – or who have – cardiovascular disease . . .The ways that omega-3 fatty acids reduce cardiovascular disease risk are still being studied. However, research to date suggests that they decrease the risk of arrhythmias which can lead to sudden cardiac death, decrease triglyceride levels, decrease rate of atherosclerotic plaques and lower blood pressure (slightly)." Furthermore, the Institute of Medicine, an expert body commissioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recognizes that growing evidence suggests DHA in the diet reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.*
* Institute of Medicine, Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and
Amino Acids (Macronutrients). National Academies Press. 2002. 11:p 609-696.
Docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, is a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid found throughout the body. DHA is a major structural fat in the brain and retina, accounting for up to 97% of the omega-3 fats in the brain and up to 93% of the omega-3 fats in the retina. It is also a key component of the heart. Numerous studies confirm that everyone, from infants to adults benefits from an adequate supply of DHA.
DHA is:
- a major structural fatty acid in the brain and retina
- a key component of heart tissue
- naturally found in breast milk
Yet despite its importance, the human body is inefficient at making DHA from its precursor fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). And, the typical Western diet provides less than 100 mg of DHA daily which is far below an expert body's recommendation of at least 220 mg of DHA daily.1
Research shows that DHA, a natural component of breast milk, is important for brain and eye development and function. Some studies have shown that infants fed DHA and arachidonic acid (ARA, an omega-6 fatty acid) supplemented formula experienced the following, compared to infants fed non-supplemented formula:
- higher IQ by 7 points2
- better vision equivalent to one line on the eye chart3
- lower blood pressure at 6 years of age4
DHA is important for optimal infant brain, eye and nervous system development, and has been shown to support a healthy pregnancy. DHA is important throughout pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester when significant brain growth occurs. Maternal DHA supplementation during pregnancy and nursing significantly enhances the level of DHA available to the fetus and infant. Certain studies (some, but not all) have shown that maternal DHA supplementation improves infant developmental outcomes, such as:
- better psychomotor development (such as eye-hand coordination) at 2 ½ years of age 52
- higher scores on standardized intelligence and achievement tests at 4 years of age6
- improved attention skills at 5 years of age7
Additionally, one study has shown that higher maternal DHA levels are associated with more mature sleep patterns in infants.8
DHA has also been shown to play a part in maternal well-being. One study showed that maternal DHA supplementation increased the length of pregnancy by 6 days helping mothers carry to a healthy or full term.9 Additionally, some research suggests that adequate levels of DHA in the maternal diet may play a role in helping a mother's emotional well-being after birth.
DHA is important for brain and eye development and function throughout the lifecycle, but is particularly important during the first two years of life and early childhood. Between birth and five years of age, the human brain increases approximately 3.5 times in mass. It is important that children consume adequate amounts of DHA in their diets to support this period of rapid brain and eye growth and development. DHA ensures that cells in the brain, retina, heart and other parts of the nervous system develop and function properly.
One study showed that older children with high cholesterol levels who supplemented with DHA experienced improved blood vessel function.10
A growing body of research continues to support the role that DHA plays in maintaining good health throughout every stage of life. Studies have shown that DHA is necessary for the optimal structure and function of the brain and eyes.
BRAIN HEALTH
- DHA is necessary for the development and maintenance of optimal structure and function of nerve cells in the brain and eyes.11
- DHA plays a significant role in the maintenance of normal neurological function.12
- Preliminary research suggests DHA plays an important role in maintaining healthy mental function.13-16
HEART HEALTH
DHA is also a key component of the heart and one of the omega-3 fats recommended by the American Heart Association and USDA Dietary Guidelines for good cardiovascular health.17
According to the American Heart Association, the ways that omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA, reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are still being studied. However, research has shown that they:18
- decrease risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac death
- decrease triglyceride levels
- decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque
- lower blood pressure (slightly)
1 Simopoulos, AP, et al.Workshop on the essentiality of and recommended dietary intakes for omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. J Am Coll Nutr, 1999. 18(5):487-489.
2 Birch, EE, et al. A randomized controlled trial of early dietary supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and mental development in term infants. Dev Med Child Neurol, 2000. 42(3):174-81.
3 Birch, EE, et al. Visual acuity and the essentiality of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid in the diet of term infants. Pediatr Res, 1998. 44(2):201-9.
4 Forsyth, JS, et al. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infant formula and blood pressure in later childhood: follow up of a randomized controlled trial. BMJ, 2003. 326(7396):953.
5 Jensen, CL, et al. Effects of maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on visual function and neurodevelopment of breast-fed infants. Pediatr Res, 2001. 49(4):448A.
6 Helland, IB, 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. Pediatr, 2003, 111(1):e39-44.
7 Jensen, CL, et al. 1. Effect of Maternal Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Supplementation on Neuropsychological and Visual Status of Former Breast-fed Infants at Five Years of Age (abstr.). Pediatric Research, 2004. 49:181A.
8 Cheruku, SR, et al. Higher maternal plasma docosahexaenoic acid during pregnancy is associated with more mature neonatal sleep-state patterning. Am J Clin Nutr, 2002.76(3):608-13.
9 Smuts, CM, et al. A randomized trial of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol, 2003. 101:469-79.
10 Engler, MM, et al. Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on lipoprotein subclasses in hyperlipidemic children (the EARLY study). Am J Cardiol, 2005. 95(7):869-71.
11 Salem, Jr. N, et al. Mechanisms of action of docosahexaenoic acid in the nervous system. Lipids, 2001. 36:945-59.
12 Marszalek,JR, et al. Docosahexaenoic Acid, Fatty-Acid-Interacting Proteins, and Neuronal Function: Breastmilk and Fish are Good for You. Annu Rev Cell Dev Bio, 2005. 21:633-57.
13 Hashimoto, M, et al. Chronic administration of docosahexaenoic acid ameliorates the impairment of spatial cognition learning ability in amyloid beta-infused rats. J Nutr, 2005. 135:549-555.
14 Lukiw,WJ, et al. A role for docosahexaenoic acid-derived neuroprotectin D1 in neural cell survival and Alzheimer disease. J of Clin Investigation, 2005. 115:2774-2783.
15 Lim, GP, et al. A diet enriched with the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid reduces amyloid burden in an aged Alzheimer mouse model. J Neurosci, 2005. 25(13).
16 Florent, S, et al. Docosahexaenoic acid prevents neuronal apoptosis induced by soluble amyloid-B oligomers. J Neurochem, 2006. 96(2):385-95.
17 Morris, M, et al. Consumption of fish and n-3 fatty acids and risk of incident Alzheimer Disease. JAMA & Archives of Neurology, 2003. 60:940-946.
18 Kris-Etherton, PM, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: new recommendations from the American Heart Association. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 2003. 23:151-152.
Research supplied by Martek.
For more information on omega-3 DHA and its wonderful benefits for you and your family go to www.lifesdha.com.
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