#所见所得, it's all scientific #
Hello everyone, I'm Pharmacist Haoyue, it's nice to meet again.
When it comes to DHA, everyone should be familiar with it. There are also many types of DHAs on the market.
But what exactly is DHA? What does it do? Does my child need supplements? If so, how exactly can it be replenished? And how to choose DHA for your child? And what are the precautions for taking DHA? For these problems, in fact, many parents want to figure out and understand.
Next, let's walk into the world of DHA around the above questions!
1. What is DHA?
DHA, also known as docosahexaenoic acid, brain gold, etc. It is an unsaturated fatty acid necessary for the human body, and is most abundant in fish oil and seaweed.
The body's own glycerophospholipids contain unequal amounts of DHA, which can be produced by α-linolenic acid during metabolism in the body, but the amount of production is extremely low, so the main source of DHA is to supplement through external foods.
Second, what are the main functions of DHA?
(1) Assist the development of brain cells in infants and young children.
DHA is an important component of brain cell membrane, participating in the formation and development of brain cells, playing an important role in the survival of neurons, nerve production, extension of nerve cell axons and the formation of new protrusions, while maintaining the normal physiological activities of nerve cells, and participating in the formation process of brain thinking and memory. Therefore, DHA is also figuratively called "brain gold".
A 1992 study on the concentration of fatty acids in the brain tissue of dead infants found that the concentration of DHA in brain tissue increased linearly from the second trimester to the second year of age, which is the critical period for the rapid development of the central nervous system of the fetal infant, which suggested that DHA may be of great significance for the neurological development of the fetus. Subsequent observational studies have found that insufficient seafood intake during pregnancy can seriously affect the development of children's intelligence, behavior, fine motor and other neurological functions.
A 2003 Norwegian study found that daily DHA supplementation from 18 weeks gestation to 3 months postpartum significantly improved the psychological development of their children up to 4 years of age.
A 2012 meta-analysis pooled 12 randomized controlled studies and found that DHA significantly improved cognitive development in infants around 1 year of age.
In 2013, Colombo et al. published a follow-up study based on RCT (randomized controlled trial), which followed up 62 children with different levels of DHA during the age of 0~12 months and 19 control children from 18 months to 6 years old, and found that DHA can improve the general learning ability during the age of 3~5, as well as the language learning ability at the age of 5 and the level of intellectual development at the age of 6.
(2) Promote the development of visual function of infants and young children.
Basic studies have confirmed that DHA accounts for 93% of the total number of retinal n-3 LCPUFAs, and DHA can increase the plasticity of rod cell discs and facilitate membrane curvature to better adapt to changes in rhodopsin conformation.
At the same time, clinical studies have found that DHA supplementation during pregnancy and infancy is associated with infant visual development. A randomized controlled trial in the United States found that DHA supplementation between 24 weeks of pregnancy and delivery significantly improved visual acuity in infants and young children.
Therefore, DHA is an important component of retinal photoreceptor cones, which can improve retinal reflex function and prevent vision loss.
When DHA is deficient, it can lead to impaired visual function and delayed visual acuity.
(3) Significantly improve the pregnancy cycle of pregnant women and reduce postpartum depression.
Taking DHA as early as possible in pregnant women can effectively reduce the risk of premature birth and memory loss after childbirth.
Studies have shown that more than 50% of women in mainland China will experience a period of postpartum depression with the birth of their children, and about 15% of new mothers will become very intense, postpartum depression will not only seriously threaten the physical health of mothers, but also affect the development of the baby, resulting in emotional disorders and abnormal behavior of the baby. Adequate amounts of DHA can significantly reduce the incidence of postpartum depression.
(4) It can improve the quality of life of the elderly.
DHA can improve blood circulation, increase cholesterol excretion, inhibit endogenous cholesterol synthesis, thereby preventing cerebral thrombosis, arteriosclerosis occlusive of lower limbs and reducing blood lipids;
At the same time, DHA can restore the degenerated brain nerve function and memory, thereby reducing the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (that is, Alzheimer's disease).
3. Does the child need to supplement DHA?
Many people say that DHA is an "IQ tax", but it is not! This is because the mainland research on DHA is relatively lagging behind that of developed countries, and people's general cognitive level is still at a relatively low stage.
DHA is a major element in the growth and maintenance of nervous system cells, an important component of the brain and retina, with up to 20% in the cerebral cortex and the largest proportion in the retina of the eye, accounting for about 50%, which is essential for children's intelligence and vision development.
Therefore, if possible, it is necessary to supplement DHA in time for children. However, objectively speaking, the development of the baby's brain cannot only rely on DHA. In 2003, the authoritative journal of mainland pediatrics clearly stated the eight major nutrients necessary for children's brain development, namely protein, taurine, fatty acids, iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, and B vitamins.
4. How to supplement DHA for children?
According to the Expert Consensus on Maternal and Infant DHA Supplementation in China, the following recommendations are made:
(1) For unborn babies.
Expectant mothers should replenish immediately while trying to conceive. So that the DHA in the body is at a relatively high level in advance.
In this way, the fetus (from 3 weeks gestation) can get enough DHA during the rapid development of the brain. After the baby is born, DHA can be continuously supplemented.
: 200 mg per day.
(2) For babies who have already been born.
The earlier DHA is supplemented, the faster the brain develops; The sooner DHA is supplemented, the sooner it will benefit.
Of course, for babies who have already been born, it is recommended that they can be supplemented half a month after birth until they are continuously supplemented to 3 years old;
3-6 years old, can be randomly supplemented according to their own situation;
After the age of 6, the development of the baby's central nervous system is basically mature, and the significance of supplementing DHA is no longer significant.
: 100mg-200mg per day.
5. How to choose DHA for children?
Algal oil DHA, which has a safer ingredient and higher absorption and utilization, should be selected.
And only algal DHA can assist the development of children's brain and visual function; Fish oil DHA is mainly used for the prevention and improvement of cerebral thrombosis, Alzheimer's disease, hyperlipidemia and other diseases in the elderly group.
6. What are the precautions for taking DHA?
(1) For babies who are exclusively breastfed, if the mother usually has a reasonable diet structure and eats more seafood, eggs, walnuts, perilla seed oil, flaxseed oil, avocado oil and other foods, the baby does not need to supplement DHA.
(2) For babies fed with pure milk powder, parents need to look at the docosahexaenoic acid in the ingredient list of the milk powder can, and calculate whether the DHA contained in the milk powder is more than 100mg according to the baby's daily milk drink.
(3) DHA is eaten after meals or with meals, and it is not recommended to eat on an empty stomach.
(4) During the period of consumption, it is not recommended to interrupt frequently.
(5) There is no need to specify specific taking times such as morning, noon and evening, just insist on supplementing every day without interruption.
(6) Do not confuse DHA and vitamin AD, they are two substances with completely different effects.
(7) Babies who are allergic to the ingredients contained in DHA should be used with caution or disabled.
(8) All DHA on the market exists as a health food, so health food cannot replace drugs.
The above is a summary of whether or not to supplement DHA and how to supplement DHA. DHA is related to the development of the central nervous system and retinal nerves of the child's brain, and timely supplementation is recommended when conditions are available. May every family have a healthy and happy baby.
Thank you very much for reading, let's share it here today, and we'll see you in the next issue.
(If you have more questions, you can follow me, welcome to comment and communicate with me at any time)