Essential fatty acids have been receiving attention for their benefits in enhancing brain function and development particularly in infants and children.
DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated essential fatty acid found in abundance in coldwater fish such as herring, mackerel and sardines, as well as certain algae. Typically, the average modern diet is low in DHA as a result of a decline in consumption of DHA-rich food sources such as organ meats and oily fish.
DHA plays an important role in proper foetal and infant brain and eye development. DHA enhances flexibility of synapses in the brain and can be helpful in increasing brain acuity and function in adults. Infants receive DHA through the placenta during pregnancy and in breast milk after birth. Studies have demonstrated the IQ benefits of infants supplemented with DHA over those without DHA.
A number of authoritative scientific groups, including the WHO/FAO Expert Committee on Fats and Oils in Human Nutrition., have recommended essential fatty acids, including DHA, be added to infant formulas to help ensure proper growth and development of rod photoreceptors (photosensitive receptors in the retina which respond to faint light) and enhance visual acuity as well as cognitive ability.