How can AA & DHA aid in infant brain growth?
The Importance of AA and DHA in Infant Brain Growth.

2 key long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are arachidonic acid (AA) (Omega 6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (Omega 3), both of which are important components of brain matter.

AA and DHA are fatty acids that are important in the development of normal visual and brain function.

AA and DHA are present in all cell membranes, particularly in the brain and retina.

Do infants really requir AA & DHA?
Most certainly! Research has shown that early infancy is the period of fastest brain growth. At this critical period, the brain requires AA and DHA to develop and mature.

Naturally, AA and DHA are found in breast milk , which is why breast fed infants have improved visual acuity and neurodevelopmental scores.

An interesting point for mothers to note is that maternal dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids can affect the fatty acid composition in breast milk.

The critical role played by AA & DHA in infant brain development
More brain power
A study conducted on infants revealed LCPUFAs, namely AA and DHA improves neurodevelopment as well as learning in early infancy.

Infants whose diet included AA and DHA for 4 months from birth show problem solving skills superior to infants whose diets did not.. At 10 months, these infants were assessed based on a test , i.e. the ability to perform a sequence of steps to achieve the goal, which was uncovering and retrieving a hidden toy.

The AA and DHA group achieved higher scores.

Better visual development
There is also mounting evidence that the addition of AA & DHA to infant diet has a beneficial and prolonged effect on visual development. AA and DHA help improve the visual acuity in infants.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that AA and DHA has a vital role to play in improving intellectual and visual development in infants.

Studies with breastfed infants suggest that these benefits can be long term, persisting into young adulthood

Facts about brain growth spurt and infant nutrition

• Brain growth spurt is the period when the brain is developing most rapidly. This starts during the third trimester and last until about 30 months of age.
• The first year of life records the greatest growth rate.
• Brain growth spurt is associated with the rapid growth of new brain structure and function.
• Approximately 25% of brain matter is formed during the brain growth spurt.
• During this critical period, the brain uses preformed AA and DHA in preference to those synthesized from precursors.
• These facts lead to the conclusion that nutrition during the brain growth spurt should never be compromised.

A preference for preformed AA & DHA
For many years, it was assumed that infants could synthesize sufficient AA and DHA from their respective precursors - linoleic and linolenic acids. Linoleic and linolenic acids have been traditionally considered the only essential fatty acids.

However recent clinical investigation shows that during early infancy- the period of fastest brain growth - the brain preferentially uses preformed AA and DHA over those synthesized from precursors. Preformed AA and DHA can be derived from breast milk, a natural source of LCPUFAs.

The user of AA & DHA is recommended by international bodies around the world
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently granted GRAS status to Martek's AA and DHA when used in specified levels and ratios in term and preterm infant formula. In another words, the pure, vegetable sources of AA and DHA are the only sources of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Other international bodies that recommend the use of AA and DHA would be the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (EPSGAN), the Food and AgricultureOrganisation / World Health Organisation (FAO/WHO) and the Child Health Foundation.

Reprinted with permission from Wyeth Nutrition