What is the role of DHA? How much is the right amount to supplement?

What is the role of DHA?

DHA is a very important polyunsaturated fatty acid for the human body, is a major nutrient for the growth and maintenance of the cells of the neural network system, and is an important component of the brain and retina, with a content of up to 35-45% of the total fatty acids in the human brain, and accounting for 50% of the total fatty acids in the retina of the eye, which is crucial for the development of the intelligence and vision of the fetus and the infant. Infancy is the golden stage for the continuous development and growth of human brain cells, brain structure and brain function.dha certification During this period, if the lack of funds for adequate nutrition leads to insufficient brain development, the resulting effects are difficult to repair and make up.

Therefore, adequate intake of DHA for infants will greatly promote the growth and development of neurons in the brain, maintain efficient connections between brain cells, and allow babies to have a more developed neural network in the brain and more sensitive and accurate responses. Research has concluded that DHA has a role to play in improving the thinking activities of children with ADHD who have difficulty concentrating.sialic acid market And adequate intake of DHA is increasingly associated with the prevention of a number of age-related diseases, such as Alheimer's syndrome. Studies have shown that it lowers triglyceride fat levels, which can play a role in lowering blood pressure and improving cardiovascular conditions.

Sources of DHA

Breast milk:

Breast milk contains about 0.3% of total fatty acids and is the best source of DHA. However, the amount of DHA in breast milk is closely related to the dietary structure and nutritional status of the mother.food ingredients asia Whether the DHA in breast milk meets the needs of the baby needs to be considered in the context of the baby's development.

Formula milk:

The DHA added to formula milk is usually fish oil type and algal oil type. Fish oil DHA has a high probability of contamination, so algal oil DHA is the main type at present. In DHA-added formula, the DHA content should reach 0.2% -0.5% of the total fatty acid, which is about 20-60mg/L. The DHA content of formula should not exceed 0.2% -0.5% of the total fatty acid.

Deep-sea fish oil:

Fish oil is rich in DHA and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), mainly from deep-sea fish. With the increasing environmental pollution, organochlorine pollutants and heavy metals have been found in fish oil. In addition, fish oil contains a certain percentage of EPA, and early studies have found that excessive intake of EPA may affect weight gain in infants.EPA has the effect of lowering blood lipids and thinning the blood, so DHA and EPA extracted from deep-sea fish oil are beneficial to the elderly and adults.

Algae oil:

It is marine microorganisms such as algae that are the original producers of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids. Currently, a variety of DHA and EPA rich marine microorganisms have been isolated, mainly some low-grade marine fungi and microalgae. Compared with fish oil, algal DHA has some advantages that fish oil cannot match. They are purely natural, green food without heavy metal residues, vegan, without fishy odor, belong to sustainable renewable resources, and from reliable sources.

DHA extracted from algae oil is the most favorable to the absorption of infants and children, and can effectively promote the development of the baby's retina and brain. Moms are invited to choose algae DHA, which is more suitable for infants and young children. Single-celled algae in the ocean can synthesize DHA by themselves. most deep-sea fish get DHA from eating algae.

Indirect sources:

The precursor of DHA (α-linolenic acid) in nature is widely found in nuts and vegetable fats, such as flaxseed oil, sunflower seeds, peanuts and other nuts, which can be partially converted into DHA in our body and thus utilized by the body. However, the effect of the conversion rate of α-linolenic acid is not well understood. It is fully recognized that alpha-linolenic acid in fats and oils such as nuts is as important as direct DHA supplementation, and both are indispensable sources of adequate DHA for the body.