Docosahexaenoic acid
Our docosahexaenoic acid or DHA is an essential fatty acid in the omega-3 family.
Good for
Nervous system, heart
Found in
Oily fish (mackerel, sardines, herring, trout, anchovies, salmon, etc.), seafood and shellfish, vegetable oils (flax, rapeseed, walnut, soya), pork, eggs and poultry given an animal feed rich in omega-3.
Benefits
The body can synthesise DHA from another omega-3 (ALA or alpha-linolenic acid). It is therefore essential to find a sufficient quantity in the diet.
It helps:
- to maintain normal triglyceride levels
- with the normal brain development of the foetus and the breastfed baby
- with the normal development of the vision of the foetus and the breastfed baby
- to maintain normal blood pressure
- with normal heart function
Scientific evidence
The mother's diet influences the development of the child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. PUFAs play an important role in the brain development of the unborn/newborn child, and n-3 PUFAs are important for the child's visual and cognitive development. For these women, the NNR (NNR, 2012) recommend a PUFA intake of at least 5% of the total energy intake, of which 1% of the total energy intake from n-3 fatty acids. 200 mg/day of these should be DHA. The EFSA recommends an additional increase in AA in EPA and DHA (250 mg/day) for pregnant and breastfeeding women of 100 to 200 mg for DHA (EFSA, 2012). However, the ANSES indicated that there is no specific reason to increase the RDA for EPA + DHA for pregnant women (ANSES, 2011).
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should only take large quantities of ALA under medical supervision.
