What are the benefits of DHA supplementation for babies? What to eat to supplement DHA

Parents all hope to have a smart and healthy baby, and DHA is particularly important, as it can promote the brain development and intellectual development of children. In fact, these nutrients can be obtained from daily diet. So how can we supplement the DHA needed by babies in daily life?

Benefits of DHA supplementation for babies

Can boost immunity

After weaning, children rely entirely on their own energy to resist the invasion of various pathogens in nature. Lack of DHA will lead to immune dysfunction and make them prone to inflammatory diseases such as colds, fever, diarrhea, tonsillitis, bronchitis, enteritis, etc.

Expert explanation: Supplementing with DHA can enhance immunity and greatly reduce the occurrence of diseases.

Promote brain development

The development of the brain goes through a complex process of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, death, synapse formation and modification. The nutrients and energy of DHA are the material basis for brain development. DHA is an essential micronutrient for the development of the fetus and children's brain. DHA can promote the formation of neural networks, accelerate the release of neurotransmitters and the transmission of information, and play a significant role in repairing injured brain cells.

Expert explanation: 0 to 6 years old is the critical period for brain development, and appropriate supplementation can be started in infancy.

Improves retinal light perception

60% of the information obtained by the human brain comes from vision. Therefore, the function of vision directly affects children's reaction ability, spatial perception and perception speed. Supplementing DHA can protect eyesight and enhance perception.

Expert explanation: When DHA is deficient, vision will be impaired, which is manifested as delayed development of visual acuity and prolonged gaze time at light.

Helping smart development

Studies have shown that children who have been supplemented with DHA have significantly improved cognitive, language, and motor abilities compared to other children. Children's intelligence includes observation, memory, thinking ability, imagination, and creativity.

Expert explanation: When DHA is deficient, fetal brain cells may be damaged, and deficiency may cause brain retardation.

Avoiding ADHD symptoms

ADHD is a behavioral disease in school-age children. Children with ADHD often have behavioral problems such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity when studying.

Experts explain: Children with ADHD may also have attention disorders because the DHA level in their bodies is lower than normal.

Anti-allergy and physical strength

In recent years, the incidence of asthma among children and adolescents has been increasing year by year, seriously affecting their mental and physical health and academic performance.

Expert explanation: Reasonable intake of appropriate amounts of DHA can avoid excessive inflammatory reactions and allergic reactions and enhance immunity.

Is it useful for babies to supplement DHA?

Babies aged 0-6 are in the golden stage of brain cell, brain structure and brain function development and growth. If they lack sufficient nutrition during this period, supplementing them later may be counterproductive. Supplementing babies with high levels of DHA during the golden period of brain development can more effectively ensure that babies' brain development obtains sufficient nutrition and lay a good foundation for future brain health and intellectual development.

DHA affects the baby's brain development and promotes the maturation of retinal photoreceptor cells. After the baby is 5 months old, if the fetus's hearing, vision, and touch are artificially stimulated, it will cause the neurons in the sensory center of the fetal cerebral cortex to grow more dendrites, which requires the mother to supply the fetus with more DHA at the same time.

Six years after birth is the "golden period" for the development of the baby's brain and retina. During this period, supplementing with high levels of DHA can effectively promote the rapid transmission of transmitters in nerve fibers and make the nervous system connections more dense. This will increase brain capacity, enhance memory, comprehension, and cognitive abilities, and promote retinal development, making babies smarter and their eyes brighter. Therefore, it is useful for babies to eat DHA.

DHA is helpful for the brain development of infants and young children to a certain extent, but to promote brain development, comprehensive considerations are needed. When protein, fat, carbohydrates and vitamins are up to standard, trace elements such as iron and zinc must also be supplemented.

What foods are good for babies to eat to supplement DHA

Rich in breast milk

Colostrum is particularly rich in DHA, while the content of DHA in mother's breast milk depends on the food structure of the three meals. Japanese mothers eat more fish, and the DHA content in their breast milk is as high as 22%.

Fish intake

Fishes with high DHA content include tuna, bonito, salmon, mackerel, sardines, horse mackerel, swordfish, tuna, yellow croaker, saury, eel, hairtail, and crucian carp.

Expert note: Not all fish are rich in DHA. The best choice is fatty fish from the ocean.

Dried fruits are high in nutrition

DHA is also rich in dried fruits, such as walnuts, almonds, peanuts, sesame seeds, etc. The α-linolenic acid contained in them can be converted into DHA in the human body.

Formula milk on the market

There are many nutritious and rich formula milks on the market today. This is also a simple and convenient choice. When choosing, you should also look for reputable manufacturers, which is safer.