DHA omega-3: looking after baby.

Omega-3s are some of the most high profile ingredients on the market today. In recent years, extensive research supporting the wide-ranging benefits of omega-3s has started to resonate with consumers, although few are aware of the different types of omega-3s--DHA, EPA and ALA--and the relative benefits they offer. There is one industry sector, however, where awareness and knowledge is already well established. DHA omega-3, which helps maintain brain, eye and heart health throughout life, has long been associated with optimum infant nutrition, owing to its importance for visual and mental development. However, as parents are bombarded with new recommendations on a wide spectrum of topics week after week, the integral role played by DHA in infant nutrition must be continually reinforced.

This is particularly important as developing infants cannot efficiently produce their own DHA. It is supplied through the placenta during pregnancy and in breast milk after birth. Ongoing campaigns by organizations such as The Breastfeeding Network in the UK have done well to communicate to large numbers of women that breastfeeding is the healthiest and most natural way for mothers to feed their babies. Awareness of the specific benefits that DHA offers for infants, however, remains low. Although the infant nutrition industry has championed DHA for many years, research shows that more work is needed to educate European consumers, as well as many healthcare professionals, on the importance of ensuring adequate levels of DHA for mother and baby, during pregnancy, lactation and infancy. (1)

DHA Omega-3: The Science

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a major structural fatty acid in the grey matter of the brain and the retina of the eye, and is widely recognized for its role in infant nutrition. It is important for visual and mental development, particularly in the second trimester of pregnancy and during the first 2 years of life when major brain growth occurs. Research has shown that infants who are fed formula supplemented with DHA at recommended levels demonstrate improved mental development and that these benefits extend well beyond the period of supplementation. (2-4) The benefits for visual development are also supported by scientific research. A number of studies have found that breastfed and supplemented infants demonstrate more mature visual acuity than non-supplemented infants. (5)

DHA plays a key role during pregnancy for the mother as well as the foetus. Maternal DHA supplementation has been shown to increase the mother's blood DHA levels, which leads to elevated DHA levels of the foetus. (6) It may also increase the length of gestation in women who are at risk of preterm births and may help to lessen the occurrence of postpartum depression. (7,8)

Gold Standard

As the above examples show, the research supporting DHA's importance for infant nutrition is extensive. The challenge is to communicate this to parents and ensure they take the advice on board. For those women who are able and choose to breastfeed, there is a need to make sure that breast milk contains an adequate amount of DHA omega-3. Most women now understand that breast milk is a natural source of the nutrients a baby needs to continue its development after birth. However, perhaps less understood is the fact that levels of some nutrients in breast milk, including DHA omega-3, are dependent on the mother's dietary intake. Research shows that concentrations of DHA in breast milk can vary significantly. One recent global study investigating DHA in breast milk found that although some populations have adequate DHA levels, particularly those in coastal and island areas where there is high intake of marine food, many women from inland and developed populations are deficient. (9)

These findings have led experts to introduce advice regarding the recommended levels of DHA consumption. A panel of child health experts from 11 countries, with endorsements from The World Association of Perinatal Medicine, Child Health Foundation and the Early Nutrition Foundation state that pregnant and breastfeeding women should aim for an intake of at least 200 mg per day of DHA omega-3. (10) This is equivalent to two servings of oily fish per week, but because of concerns regarding potential contaminants in certain fish, supplementation is often a preferred means of obtaining DHA. life's DHA, produced by Martek, is a vegetarian, sustainable source of DHA that can be found in a number of supplements and food and beverage products developed for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Breastfeeding Problems

Intensive media campaigns and lobbying initiatives have imprinted the "breast is best" slogan in the minds of mothers across the world. Breastfeeding is unarguably the healthiest and most natural way to feed babies. The fact is, however, that a large number of women are unable or choose not to breastfeed. While a minority of European mothers breastfeed exclusively for the recommended minimum of 6 months, many babies are breastfed for shorter periods, or not at all. The reasons behind this are numerous--some women do not produce sufficient quantities of milk, others suffer severe discomfort, infection or depression and, for many, especially working mothers, breastfeeding is simply too inconvenient. Although research suggests that breastfeeding levels are slowly increasing, only 35% of UK babies are being exclusively breastfed at one week, 21% at 6 weeks, 7% at 4 months and 3% at 5 months. (11)

This means there is a large segment of the population that is dependent on infant formula to ensure the healthy growth of their babies. While infant formula cannot reproduce the complexities of breast milk exactly, manufacturers strive to produce formula that is as close as possible to the natural source. DHA omega-3, as well as AA (arachidonic acid) omega-6, are an integral part of the infant formulae market in many parts of the world. This is supported by advice from specialists in infant nutrition. Recent recommendations published in the Journal of Perinatal Medicine from the Expert Committee on LCPUFAs in Perinatology emphasize that, although breastfeeding is preferred, women who are unable, or choose not to, should look for infant formulas that contain DHA and AA at recommended levels. (12) life's DHA and life's AA from Martek are in triglyceride form, replicating the DHA in breast milk and making it more easily digestible by the child. life's DHA and life's AA are added to infant formulas sold in 70 countries and have been consumed by about 43 million babies worldwide.

Summary

Ongoing campaigns have been successful in communicating the message that breastfeeding is by far the healthiest way for a baby to feed. Beyond this broad advice, however, there is little awareness of some of the essential nutrients a baby needs for optimum development. DHA omega-3 is central to cognitive and visual development in infants and is naturally present in breast milk. However, low dietary intakes of DHA in western countries and sustained figures of non-breastfeeding mean that infants may not be receiving an adequate supply of this important ingredient. Supplementation for mothers and infants, whether in dietary supplement form, infant formula or fortified food and beverages, is therefore key to ensuring today's children receive the best start in life.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

For more information

Tim Fealey, PhD, Chief Innovation Officer and Sheila Gautier, RD, Project Manager, Scientific Affairs

Martek Biosciences Corporation

6480 Dobbin Road

Columbia, Maryland 21045, USA.

Tel. [phone]

[e-mail]

www.martek.com

References

(1.) 3A Business Consulting. Market research regarding knowledge about DHA among pregnant women and health care professionals (www.3abc.dk), October 2008.

(2.) E.E.Birch, et al., "A Randomized Controlled Trial of Early Dietary Supply of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Mental Development in Term Infants," Dev. Med. Child Neurol. 42(3), 174-181 (2000).

(3.) P. Willatts, et al., "Effect of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Infant Formula on Problem Solving at 10 Months of Age," Lancet 352(9129), 688-691 (1998).

(4.) E.E.Birch, et al., "Visual Acuity and Cognitive Outcomes at 4 Years of Age in a Double-Blind, Randomized Trial of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Supplemented Infant Formula," Early Hum. Dev. 83(5), 279-284 (Epub 18 January 2007).

(5.) D.R. Hoffman, et al., "Visual Function in Breastfed Term Infants Weaned to Formula with or without Long-Chain Polyunsaturates at 4 to 6 Months: A Randomized Clinical Trial," J. Pediatr. 142(6), 669-677 (2003).

(6.) S.E. Carlson, "Docosahexaenoic Acid Status of Preterm Infants at Birth and Following Feeding with Human Milk or Formula," Am. J. Cin Nutr. 44(6), 798-804 (1986).

(7.) C.M. Smuts, et al., "A Randomized Trial of Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation During the Third Trimester of Pregnancy," Obstetrics & Gynecology 101(3), 469-479 (2003).

(8.) S.J. Otto, et al., "Increased Risk of Postpartum Depression Symptoms is Associated with Slower Normalization After Pregnancy of the Functional Docosahexaenoic Acid Status," Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids 69, 237-243 (2003).

(9.) J.T. Brenna, et al., "Docosahexaenoic and Arachidonic Acid Concentrations in Breast Milk Worldwide," Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 85,1457-1464 (2007).

(10.) J.M. Carrera, Ed., Recommendations and Guidelines for Perinatal Medicine (World Association of Perinatal Medicine [www.wapm. info], February 2008).

(11.) Infant feeding Survey 2005: www.babyfriendly. org.uk/page.asp?page=21 (published May 2008).

(12.) The DHA added should make up between 0.2% and 0.5% of fatty acids. AA should be added in