DHA from the moment of birth - Why is it recommended?

Neonatologists and pediatricians in the region, based on the recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), recommend a daily intake of 100 mg of DHA omega-3 fatty acid, from birth to the age of 2.

You have probably heard that DHA omega-3 fatty acids are very important. But did you know that DHA is of crucial importance, especially during the first few years of life? 

DHA - an important structural component of brain nerve cells 

The fastest development and growth of a child's brain occurs during the period from the last trimester of pregnancy and lasts until the second year of life. In fact, during the first year of life, a baby's brain grows by 175%. 

The first baby's smile, the first controlled movement, turn, giggling... all of these are thanks to the brain and its intensive development. 

DHA makes up about 12-15% of the total amount of fatty acids in the grey matter of the brain. 

For new-borns and infants who do not receive sufficient DHA through breast milk and are exclusively or predominantly breastfed (mixed feeding with over 50% of breast milk in the total daily milk intake) - a daily supplement of 100 mg of DHA is recommended. 

DHA - contributes to normal vision development 

The eye is a complex organ influenced by many factors. These factors can come from the external environment, but they can also be internal, related to the baby's body being supplied with essential nutrients. 

One very important nutrient for normal vision development is the omega-3 DHA fatty acid. 

The eye's retina is composed of nervous tissue. It is the innermost layer in the human eye and is photosensitive. The retina responds to incoming light rays and its role in the visual system is of utmost importance. All incoming light rays that are gathered in the retina are transformed and transmitted via the optic nerve to the brain, which converts that impulse into an image. 

This unique layer of the eye consists of ten layers, with one of them being the photoreceptors. DHA, the omega-3 fatty acid, is one of the main building blocks of photoreceptors (35-50%). 

The intake of DHA contributes to normal vision development in infants up to 12 months of age.