Improving eyesight: for children, help from Omega-3 DHA
Omega 3 eyes: Omega 3 DHA may also improve vision in children
It is possible to improve children's vision by addingOmega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to infant formula. This is the result of a clinical study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which found that a percentage of this fatty acid ranging from 0.32 to 0.96 percent of milk components is sufficient to improve visual abilities in infants.
According to the authors of the research, led by Eileen Birch of the Retina Foundation of the Southwest in Dallas, USA,adding DHA to infant formula has no side effects.
DHA and infants: expert opinion
the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has included DHA among the essential nutrients during pregnancy and lactation. It is also recommended as a supplement for children between the ages of 7 and 24 months. Experts recommend that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding their children take 200 milligrams a day of this Omega-3.
For children, however, the recommended daily requirement is 100 milligrams. According to EFSA, DHA may contribute to normal eye development in the fetus,infants, and children. In young children, this fatty acid also participates in the development of visual abilities.
Omega-3 from the earliest days of life
The research by Birch and colleagues represents the first comprehensive study of the effect of DHA on the development of visual skills. A total of 244 infants aged between 1 and 9 days of age with no particular health problems were involved. The infants, all formula-fed, were randomly assigned to one of four possible groups, corresponding to the intake of milk with no DHA added or with the addition of 0.32%, 0.64% or 0.96% of this Omega-3.
In all cases where DHA was added to the milk, the food also contained 0.64 percent arachidonic acid. At the age of one year, the researchers evaluated the children's visual abilities. The results showed thatDHA intake improved vision sharpness compared with young children who did not receive the omega-3 with food. However, no difference in the effectiveness of the 3 different doses of DHA was demonstrated.
DHA, Omega-3 without side effects
Another important finding of this study is that theaddition of DHA to infant formula does not increase the incidence of side effects compared to taking traditional formulations. The authors of the research commented that the safety and tolerance to doses of DHA as low as 0.96 percent can be explained by the fact that such levels can also be found in human milk. If a woman's Omega-3 stores are well supplied, breast milk can become an immediately available source of DHA.
However, not all babies can feed on breast milk, sometimes for reasons related to mom's health, sometimes for purely logistical reasons. For researchers, adding DHA to infant formula is a safe and effective alternative, although new studies will be needed to be able to determine the long-term effect, beyond one year of age, of DHA intake.
Source
1. Birch EE, Carlson SE, Hoffman DR, Fitzgerald-Gustafson KM, Fu VL, Drover JR, Castañeda YS, Minns L, Wheaton DK, Mundy D, Marunycz J, Diersen-Schade DA, "The DIAMOND (DHA Intake And Measurement Of Neural Development) Study: a double-masked, randomized controlled clinical trial of the maturation of infant visual acuity as a function of the dietary level of docosahexaenoic acid," Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Apr;91(4):848-59. Epub 2010 Feb 3
