Uses
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can promote brain development and enhance memory in infants and young children. It can also be used as an antistatic agent, a hair conditioner in cosmetics, and in aquaculture.
Description
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid found in cold-water, fatty fish, such as salmon.It is also found in fish oil supplements, along with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Vegetarian sources of DHA come from seaweed. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is essential for the growth and functional development of the brain in infants. DHA is also required for maintenance of normal brain function in adults. The inclusion of plentiful DHA in the diet improves learning ability, whereas deficiencies of DHA are associated with deficits in learning. DHA is taken up by the brain in preference to other fatty acids. The turnover of DHA in the brain is very fast, more so than is generally realized. The visual acuity of healthy, full-term, formula-fed infants is increased when their formula includes DHA[1].
Dosage
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) recommendations during pregnancy and breastfeeding: 200-450 mg/day; if the DHA tissue reserve was low in pregnancy, administer 1,000 mg/day.
In the pre term infant: 30-100 mg of AA/kg/day; 30-65 mg of DHA/kg/ day.
Infant 7-23 months 100 mg of DHA/kg/day
[2].
References
[1] Lagarde, M. “Health benefits of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).” Pharmacological research 40 3 (1999): 205–6.
[2] Karla Xcaret Cervantes-De Celis, Mariela B.-G., Raquel Fuentes-Montoya. (2025). [Perinatal benefits and recommendations of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid]. Revista Medica Del Instituto Mexicano Del Seguro Social, 63 Suppl 1, e6483. https://doi.org/
10.5281/zenodo.14199904
