Essential Fatty Acids for Pregnant Women and Babies
Essential fatty acids are used in brain and visual development.
DHA is so important, that every day during the 3rd trimester,
40-60 mg/kg of body weight gathers in the baby's brain. DHA and
AA enhance global development, visual attention, and problem-solving
in infants. Pregnant and lactating mothers need to be sure they
are getting enough DHA and AA to supply the needs of their growing
baby as well as their own. If you are supplying breastmilk for
a preemie baby, his requirements of these fatty acids are even
higher than those of a full-term baby. A study has shown that
increased DHA may decrease premature delivery.
Are supplements a good idea? Because of today's diet, which
consists mainly of plant-sourced LA and ALA fatty acids, and because
our bodies no longer have enzyme levels sufficient to efficiently
convert them to DHA and AA, it seems that taking essential fatty
acid capsules (from your health food store) would be an excellent
idea. If you are mostly vegetarian, you likely have lower body
stores of AA and DHA. Direct DHA intake by the mother increases
levels in the baby's brain before and after birth more efficiently
than if her body has to convert the parent fatty acid (ALA). Converted
fatty acids (DHA and AA) are moved selectively to the baby instead
of the precursor fatty acids (LA and ALA).
This is also important information for breastfeeding mothers,
because DHA levels in breastmilk have dropped by about 1/3 in
the past decade. A recent study has shown that babies of mothers
with high DHA in their milk had better vision than those with
lower DHA in their milk.
Scientists recommend the following:
*Pregnant women should have at least 250 mg of DHA per day.
*200-400 mg/day of DHA may be enough to replace DHA depleted from
mother's during postpartum.
(Compiled from: The Lancet, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterologic Nutrition, British Journal
of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, etc.)