Is DHA safe in baby formula?
AAP Stance on DHA and ARA Current studies on humans show no harmful effects of supplementing infant formula with DHA and ARA and some studies even show some benefits to a child’s visual function and/or cognitive and behavioral development.
What does DHA mean in formula?
docosahexaenoic acid
Almost all brands of formula sold in the U.S. are now fortified with DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid), synthesized versions of the essential fatty acids that are naturally found in breast milk; the natural versions of DHA and ARA are also concentrated in the cells of the brain and eyes.
Does all baby formula have DHA?
Not all DHA formulas contain the same amount of DHA. Look on the list of ingredients for DHA, which will be listed by its full name, docosahexaenoic acid. Experts recommend† that infant formula contains between 0.2%-0.5% of total fatty acids (approximately 7.2 to 18 mg of DHA per 100 mL).
Which formula has the most DHA?
However, Enfamil is the only leading formula to provide this DHA amount. The nearly 1.9 million American babies who drink Similac do not get DHA in a global expert-recommended amount and get less than half the DHA found in Enfamil¹.
Do you want DHA in formula?
In cases where an infant formula is needed to supplement or replace breast milk, experts recommend using an infant formula which contains between 0.2% and 0.5% of total fatty acids as DHA, and at least as much ARA as DHA (Koletzko, 2008).
Is DHA in formula necessary?
* Formula fed babies can get more DHA by giving them a baby formula with recommended levels of DHA. DHA is an important nutrient in your baby’s diet for a lot of reasons, so make sure you’re little one is getting DHA to help support their development.
How much DHA is in Enfamil?
Experts recommend that DHA should account for 0.2% to 0.36% of total fatty acids in the formula. For example, Enfamil NeuroPro™ has 0.32% of total fatty acids as DHA, similar to the average amount found in world-wide mature breast milk.
How do I give my baby DHA?
DHA is pulled from the mother’s blood stores and placenta during pregnancy. Once the baby is born, DHA is transferred through a nursing mother’s breast milk to the baby. Omega-3s have been proven to be vital to brain and eye development, during both pregnancy and infancy.