Benefits of Breastmilk Omega-3 Content: Understanding the Positive Effects of Omega-3 on Breastfed Infants
In recent years, the importance of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) during breastfeeding has gained significant attention in the field of maternal and infant health. This omega-3 fatty acid, known for its role in neural development, has been linked to improved cognitive function and visual development in infants.
Scientific evidence supports the benefits of DHA during breastfeeding for infant cognitive function and visual development. Studies have shown a positive relationship between maternal DHA intake and improved neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants, including enhanced cognitive function, social skills, and language abilities. This benefit is largely attributed to DHA’s role in promoting brain growth and neural connectivity during critical early life stages.
DHA also plays a crucial role in visual development. It accumulates in infants' eyes and brain during the last trimester and continues through breastfeeding. Its presence is linked to the development of visual function, given its integral role in retinal and cortical structures. Some studies suggest improvements in visual acuity for breastfed infants receiving adequate DHA.
Breast milk naturally contains DHA, which depends on the mother's nutritional status. Well-nourished mothers with adequate omega-3 intake provide higher DHA levels in milk, supporting infant neurodevelopment, especially in low and middle-income countries where breastfeeding is a cost-effective nutrition source.
DHA supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding is often recommended to ensure sufficient infant intake. However, evidence shows mixed results regarding cognitive or visual benefits from supplemented formulas compared to breastfed infants.
Despite some variability in findings, maternal DHA intake through diet or supplements during breastfeeding is supported by robust evidence for cognitive and visual benefits in infants. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) states that maternal intake of DHA contributes to the normal brain development and development of the eye of breastfed infants.
References:
1. Birch, M. et al. (2010) A double-masked, randomized controlled clinical trial of the maturation of infant visual acuity as a function of the dietary level of docosahexaenoic acid. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcn.2009.08.017 2. Arterburn, L. et al. (2006) Docosahexaenoic acid and visual acuity in young infants. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 84(3), 601-606. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/84.3.601 3. Rafati, H., et al. (2020) Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on human health: a review. Nutrients, 12(5), 1278. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051278 4. Marangoni, A. et al. (1994) Changes in N-3 and N-6 fatty-acids in humans after prolonged administration of DHA and EPA ethyl-esters. Lipids, 29(10), 851-857. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02540240 5. Lauritzen, S. & Carlson, S. E. (2011) Maternal fatty acid status during pregnancy and lactation and its relation to newborn and infant status. Lipids in Health and Disease, 10(1), 1. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-10-1 6. Makrides, M., Neumann, M. A., & Gibson, R. A. (1996) The effect of maternal DHA supplementation on breast milk composition. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 63(3), 409-414. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/63.3.409 7. Juber, D. L., et al. (2017) Maternal education and breast milk docosahexaenoic acid levels in a prospective cohort of breastfeeding women. Journal of Human Lactation, 33(1), 17-23. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334416666384 8. Lassek, W. D. & Gaulin, S. J. (2015) Maternal milk DHA content predicts cognitive performance in a sample of 28 nations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(3), 706-711. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1416446112 9. Willatts, P. et al. (1998) The effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant formula on problem-solving at 10 months of age. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 78(3), 258-262. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.78.3.258
- The health-and-wellness industry emphasizes the significance of DHA, a crucial omega-3 fatty acid, in promoting mental-health development, particularly in infants, during breastfeeding.
- Studies indicate that a single capsule dose of DHA, when taken by mothers, can lead to improvements in their infants' skin-care, including better visual acuity and cognitive function.
- DHA is essential for both mens-health and womens-health, as it plays a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of the body's nutritional balance and overall well-being.
- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) advises that a steady intake of DHA, either via diet or supplements, during breastfeeding, contributes to the normal brain development and visual function in infants, underscoring its importance in maintaining their health-and-wellness.
