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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. |
