What is DHA?DHA, which stands for docosahexaenoic acid, is a type of fat. This particular fatty acid is abundant in the gray matter of the human brain and in the membranes of the retinal photoreceptors in the eyes.1 It is a 22-carbon long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid of the omega-3 family. Research suggests that DHA from a mothers breast milk benefits an infants eye and brain development. For adults, some preliminary research points to cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits of DHA.What are good sources of DHA?For infants, the best source is undisputedly breast milk.Adults can acquire preformed DHA from sources such as fish, fish oil, beef, and egg yolks. The human body can also synthesize DHA from other omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in nuts, flaxseeds, canola oil, and other foods.Where does the supplemental DHA in foods such as infant formula and organic milk come from?The DHA in infant formula and organic milk comes from docosahexaenoic single cell oil (DHASCO). These oils are extracted with the toxic chemical hexane from laboratory-grown algae.Is the DHA found in infant formula equivalent to the DHA found naturally in breast milk?Algal DHA oils and fungal ARA oils contain DHA and ARA triglycerides that are not identical to those found in human milk. In human milk, DHA is carried as a single molecule on a triglyceride. In DHASCO, the fungal DHA oil, the majority of DHA appears as a single molecule on the triglyceride chain, similar to human milk; however, two DHA molecules do appear on some triglycerides in DHASCO.2 Many components of DHASCO, which contains only 40-50% DHA, are new to an infants diet.What is ARA?ARA stands for arachidonic acid, which is a 20-carbon omega-6 fatty acid. Like DHA, ARA is also believed to be an important component of the central nervous system. If DHA is added, ARA must also be added to infant formula in order to maintain a balance of fatty acids.
