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by totalhealth Editors
The Critical Role of Essential Fatty Acids
Over the past decade, a wide body of research has established essential fatty acid (EFA) supplementation, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA), as imperative to establishing and maintaining optimal health throughout our lifetimes.
Adequate levels of essential fatty acids are a must in pregnancy and early human development. DHA is a key component of healthy heart tissue, is critical to the brain and is the major structural and functional EFA in the central nervous system.
Low levels of DHA are associated with impaired concentration, learning ability, memory, and visual function, as well as depression, hostility and aggression. In several studies, hyperactive children were found to have significantly lower blood levels of DHA, and learning disabilities were linked to DHA deficiency. Although the single decisive study has not yet been done, every indication from the research completed to date is that correction of DHA deficiency should benefit ADHD. EFA balance is important in DHA, and when administered together with GLA (gamma-linolenic acid, an omega-6) might be even more effective.
EFAs in pregnancy and early human development are vitally important structural elements of cell membranes and, therefore, are instrumental in the formation of new tissues. DHA is essential to brain development in the fetus and is enriched throughout the entire brain cortex. The basic building material in the brain is fat. Fifty percent to total fatty acids in the body are concentrated in the retina, adrenal glands and in the brain as DHA. Within the retina, DHA is concentrated in the lipids of the rod cells and within the brain neurons at the synapses, ensuring the optimal function of brain-cell membranes essential for the transmission of nerve signals.
For her own well-being and that of her future child or children, a woman contemplating pregnancy should begin supplementing with essential fatty acids as early as possible. It takes time for DHA to become incorporated into human tissues. Many women have low levels or are deficient in DHA, especially women in developing countries. Also, since the fetus and nursing child draw DHA from the mother, it is vitally important to the mother’s well-being that she replenish the DHA in her system throughout and after the pregnancy. It is important that arachidonic acid, also found in a mother’s milk, be available for the DHA to be properly synthesized in the infant’s system.
researchshows that a mother’s DHA levels decrease progressively during her pregnancy. Also, while DHA is synthesized throughout the entire gestation period, especially in the third trimester, it may delay myelination of the nerves and brain maturation.
In a study to assess increased DHA levels in human newborn infants by administration of fish oil during pregnancy, 15 healthy, pregnant women were enrolled to receive nine weeks of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation to determine if maternal intake of DHA from fish oil is reflected in infant plasma levels. DHA in plasma and red blood cells increased at the end of the supplement period. Levels of DHA in unsupplemented mothers did not change during the same period. Blood and plasma levels of DHA in newborn infants differed greatly from infants born from omega-3 acid supplemented mothers compared with control infants.
With preterm infants, fetal DHA status has been shown to be related to head circumference, birth weight and birth length, and motor development, as well as brain maturation. However, supplementation with DHA can be vital to overcoming these difficulties. Studies indicate that DHA supplementation is important to the developing child for at least the first six to 18 months, or longer if a deficiency exists.
Recognizing the imperative of DHA to the healthy development of full-term as well as premature infants, the World Health Organization has recommended that all infant formulas be DHA-enriched. Infant formulas in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Finland, Japan, and the Pacific Rim countries already include AA and DHA.
While vital to the development of the fetus and newborn child, these elements are also essential to the pregnant and postpartum female. As mentioned earlier, the fetus and nursing child draw their DHA from the mother. If her DHA is not replenished, it can jeopardize both the normal development of subsequent children and seriously impact her own health. Studies indicate that low levels of omega-3 fatty acids may cause immune inflammatory responses and increase the incidence of hostility, aggressive behavior and depression. Other potential risks for individuals with long-term DHA deficiency may be adult ADHD and the early onset of cognitive or memory loss.
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