What is DHA and ARA in infant formula?
What is DHA and ARA in infant formula?
DHA is docosahexaenoic acid and ARA is arachidonic acid. Both are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The body can make DHA and ARA from certain other dietary fatty acids, which are found in plant oils and other sources; however, DHA and ARA are also consumed directly in the diet.
Can babies have milk with DHA?
Yes. Human breast milk does contain DHA and other fatty acids that may be synthesized into DHA by babies. According to some studies, the concentration of DHA in breast milk does appear to be correlated with a mother’s diet – mothers who eat more seafood may have higher DHA levels.
Is DHA and ARA safe in formula?
AAP Stance on DHA and ARA Current studies on humans show no harmful effects of supplementing infant formula with DHA and ARA and some studies even show some benefits to a child’s visual function and/or cognitive and behavioral development.
Is DHA bad for babies?
Studies show that the naturally occurring polyunsaturated fats docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) found in human milk are beneficial for babies’ brain, neural, and eye development.
Do infants need DHA?
Babies need omega-3s, and in particular, DHA, because that nutrient is central to the brain’s growth, structure and development. The brain and the retina both need DHA in order to properly form and function. DHA is pulled from the mother’s blood stores and placenta during pregnancy.
What is DHA in milk formula?
Docosahexaenoic acid, better known as DHA, and arachidonic acid, better known as ARA, are fatty acids found in breast milk, as well as in some foods, like fish and eggs. (Fatty acids combine to make fat molecules.) While breast milk naturally contains ALA and LA, it also contains DHA and ARA.
Do babies need DHA?
Where can I get DHA and Ara for my Baby?
Term infants can receive appropriate DHA and ARA intake from breast milk (the optimal choice) or from DHA- and ARA-supplemented term formulas. Most of the formula companies in the United States now supplement infant formula with DHA and ARA.
Is the DHA in baby formula the same as breast milk?
The chemical structure of extracted DHA/ARA isn’t the same as human DHA/ARA. And even baby formulas with DHA and ARA aren’t a perfect match for breast milk because breast milk contains hundreds of components that can’t be replicated. Also, infants can make these fatty acids from other fatty acids in their diet,…
What are the benefits of DHA and ARA in Formula?
DHA and ARA in Formula. The supplements also appear to reduce the risk of asthma and wheezing in children who have mothers with allergies. In addition, babies who receive a formula containing DHA and ARA may have fewer respiratory illnesses. A 2014 study found that infants fed formula containing DHA and ARA had fewer episodes of bronchitis,…
Why do you need to add Ara to infant formula?
Like DHA, ARA is also believed to be an important component of the central nervous system. If DHA is added, ARA must also be added to infant formula in order to maintain a balance of fatty acids. Where does ARA in infant formula come from?