Essential Fatty Acids for Foetal Development

See also: Depression and Fish Oil   Essential Fatty Acids and Foetal Development  Omega 3 and 6 May Help Dry Eye Syndrome  Fish Oil and Brain Development

The omega-6 and omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential dietary nutrients required for growth and development, particularly of the brain and eye.

Large quantities of omega-3 fatty acid (DHA – docosahexaenoic acid) is accumulated in the grey matter of the brain and the visual parts of the retina during development. Reduced DHA in these tissues can result in decreased visual and psychomotor development.

The DHA content of human milk can vary as much as ten-fold. In women with no intake of DHA in the diet or in supplement form, the breast milk is low in DHA. Women with high intakes of DHA, have highest levels of DHA in the breast milk.

DHA is found predominantly in fatty fish and fish oil supplements.

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2004;554:27-43




Comment: Although oily fish is an excellent source of omega-3 Fatty Acids, due to significant levels of toxicity found in almost all fish nowadays, it is no longer recommended that fish be eaten more than once per week, and it is now generally recommended to take good quality EPA/DHA (fish oil) supplements instead.