In plain words
DHA stands for docosahexaenoic acid. It is an omega-3 fat that the body uses to build cell membranes. Most of it is stored in the brain and the retina of the eye. In pregnancy, much of this storage happens in the third trimester. Mothers get DHA from certain fish, from some eggs, and from supplements. Health groups have published advice on how much DHA to eat during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and that advice differs by country. Some mothers ask their provider whether they need a DHA supplement. Those questions are good to bring to a visit. DHA is a nutrient, not a treatment, and its role in children's development is still being studied.
The deeper version
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, chiefly docosahexaenoic acid, accrete in fetal brain and retina predominantly during the third trimester, when the fetus takes up placentally transported DHA. The FAO and WHO expert consultation report (2010) and Koletzko and colleagues (Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 2008) set out consensus intake recommendations for pregnancy and lactation, which vary across national bodies. Randomized trials of have reported small or inconsistent effects on infant neurodevelopment, with differences tied to baseline intake and outcome measures. Controversy centers on whether supplementation benefits mothers at low baseline intake and whether any child benefit persists beyond early childhood.
Where it comes up
- Eating before you conceiveBefore Pregnancy
- Supplements beyond the prenatal: what's worth asking aboutPregnancy: Eating
What mothers here say about DHA
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Koletzko B et al. — The roles of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy, lactation and infancy: review of current knowledge and consensus recommendations. Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 2008
- Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization — Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition: report of an expert consultation, 2010