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DHA Promotes Brain Development In Utero

http://www.naturallysavvy.com/site.php?id=593

A recently published study showed pregnant women who ingested omega-3 fats, particularly during the third trimester, had longer gestation periods and bore infants with better vision and cognitive function. 109 Inuit infants from northern Quebec were assessed. Researchers found the level of DHA in the infants umbilical cord blood was correlated to the DHA concentrations in their mothers’ blood at the time of delivery. Infants whose cord blood was richer in DHA at birth showed better cognitive, motor, and eye development at six and eleven months of age.

The amount of DHA found in a mother’s milk and her infants’ umbilical cord at time of birth is dependent on the mothers’ diet. DHA consumption is well below the recommended intake in the United States. American women typically consume 40-80 mg of DHA per day, compared to 200 mg for Europeans and approximately 600 mg for Japanese women.

This study adds to the growing evidence that DHA is important during pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester when brain and photoreceptor development accelerate. A minimum of 300 mg of DHA daily is recommended for pregnant and lactating women.

Jacobson, J., Jacobson, S., Muckle, G., Kaplan-Estrin, M., Ayotte, P., Dewailly, E. (2008), “Beneficial effects of a polyunsaturated fatty acid on infant development: evidence from the Inuit of Arctic Quebec” J Pediatr. 152.