Benefits of DHA and ARA for Infants
Although breastmilk is a natural source of DHA and ARA, supplemented infant formula has been shown to be a good source of these nutrients for formula-fed babies. In fact, a clinical study concluded that infants who were fed formula supplemented with DHA and ARA at recommended levels:
- scored 7 points higher on the Mental Development Index (MDI) than infants who were fed formula without DHA and ARA.
- exhibited better visual acuity (equivalent to one line on the eye chart) than the non-supplemented infants and similar visual acuity to that of the breast-fed infants.
Additional research concluded that infants who were breast-fed for four to six months and then weaned to DHA and ARA supplemented infant formula demonstrated more mature visual acuity than those infants who were weaned to non-supplemented formula, demonstrating that DHA and ARA are important for optimal development beyond 6 months of age. Other clinical studies, particularly studies involving infant formulas with lower levels of added DHA and ARA, have not reported similar effects.
