Discover the history of DHA research and find out where it comes from. Learn which foods have it—and why it is such a good idea.
Sometimes it might seem like DHA just came out of the blue. Many of us don’t remember hearing about it years and years ago, but like many scientific advances, nutritional science also evolves. DHA does seem to be top of mind these days and there are lots of good reasons why. It’s also not as new as you think.
How long has DHA been studied? And is it safe?
DHA has been studied for many years as a beneficial nutrient for children and adults. Infant formulas that have DHA have been clinically studied for over 20 years and DHA has been found to be a way to support early brain development. Since rapid brain growth continues until the age of 3, this brain-nourishing nutrient is also in toddler drinks designed to provide key nutrients for brain growth.
Where does it come from? How much is recommended?
International expert groups including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) recommend that toddlers have 70-100mg/day of DHA. Yet, on average, a toddler’s daily diet only provides 19mg of DHA, leaving a nutritional gap. And while there are natural food sources for this important nutrient, they are not foods most children regularly eat, such as Atlantic mackerel and salmon. Toddlers also do not regularly eat foods rich in omega-3 fats such as flaxseed and walnuts, which need to be digested and then converted into DHA. In addition, during this conversion process, very little ends up as DHA.
As you see, it can be hard to get the DHA from diet alone, even for adults. That’s why the DHA in Enfagrow® Toddler products can help. Just two servings a day may help fill the nutritional gap. When you serve Enfagrow PREMIUM™ Toddler Transitions® and Enfagrow PREMIUM™ Toddler Next Step™, you can ensure your child has DHA, a nutrient experts recommend, in their diet.