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Omega-3s for Mama and Babe
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil are high in EPA (eicosapentaenoic
acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
These fatty acids have been associated
with heart health, joint health, brain health, gut health… the list
goes on and on.
The two often go hand in hand, and for most conditions,
researchers don’t know the perfect ratio of EPA to DHA. But for infant
health, DHA is the fatty acid that shines.
DHA is most concentrated in the brain and the retina, which is why it’s
been found to be helpful in these areas of the body.
In infants, DHA
has been found to help improve brain development when pregnant mothers
get high amounts, and when infants receive it from breast milk or supplemented
formula.
Two new studies add to the science behind DHA for new mothers.
One study in preterm infants found that high doses of
DHA in baby formula or breast milk resulted in greater
growth rate of the head, which was associated with increased
mental development—both important factors when considering
pre-term infants who are at a developmental disadvantage.
The second study found that pregnant women who took fish
oil high in DHA had fewer symptoms common to postpartum
depression. Considering 25 percent of new mothers experience
postpartum depression, this is good news.
More studies
will be done to determine just how and why DHA works
in this way, but the results are promising.
Fish
oil supplements are a great source of DHA,
but look for a formula that has IFOS (International Fish
Oil Standards) certification to ensure that you’re getting
the purest fish oil.
Yours in Health,
Brenda Watson, C.N.C. |
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