DHA對懷孕期間和妊娠期護理的重要性

DHA是腦部和視網膜裡一個主要結構脂肪酸，並且存在於母乳裡。在母親懷孕與哺乳時攝取足量的DHA對母親本身還有嬰兒的健康維護是很重要的。

DHA對嬰幼兒的發育

1. DHA對胎兒在子宮裡還有嬰幼兒時期視力和腦部健全的發育是重要的

2. 在發育中的嬰兒無法有效率的產生DHA，必須透過胎盤由母體輸給胎兒或出生後透過母乳的攝取才能獲得。

3. 一個由國際健康組織(National Institutes of Health(NIH)和國際脂肪酸與脂肪研究協會(International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids—ISSFAL)所贊助的研討會建議懷孕和哺乳的婦女每日應攝取300mg的DHA。

4. 在美國懷孕與哺乳的婦女平均每日攝取60至80mg的DHA，僅達到20-25%由NIH/ISSFAL所贊助的研討會所建議的每日建議量。

5. 母乳中DHA的含量取決於母親的飲食習慣。因為低DHA攝取量，以致美國婦女母乳中的DHA的含量比由世界衛生組織(World Health Organization—WHO)與聯合國農糧組織(Food and Agriculture Organization—FAO)所聯合組成的專家所建議的嬰兒奶粉DHA含量來的低。

6. 孕婦補充DHA營養補充品之後，母體血液及母乳中的DHA濃度會增加。因此，胎兒和母乳餵食的嬰兒血中DHA濃度也相對的增加。

7. DHA被認為是在母乳成份中，最有可能影響母乳餵食的嬰兒在0-18歲有較 高認知能力的成份(與餵食沒有含DHA的嬰兒配方奶粉比較)。

8. 母乳中較高含量的DHA與嬰兒對環境的變遷有較好適應力有關連。

9. 母親血液中DHA濃度較高者，其嬰兒之中央神經系統發育會較成熟，故顯示出較好的睡眠型態。

10. 懷孕婦女補充DHA其孩童在腦力發育上顯示了較優的發展，包括了在2.5歲時心理性肌肉運動的發展(psychomotor)，例如眼手協調(eye-hand coordination)，和5歲時注意力的進步。

11. 一項利用由哈佛風險評估中心(Havard Center for Risk Analyis)所設計的統計型的風險利益評估(Risk-Benefit analysis)，預估提高懷孕婦女每日DHA的攝取量100mg，其孩童的IQ則會上升0.13。

對懷孕婦女健康的重要性

1. 在懷孕期間補充DHA營養補充品可以增加母親的懷孕期約六天，這可以幫助母親的健康或是胎兒足月生產。

2. 在懷孕期間及產後補充DHA可以幫助母親情緒穩定。

DHA和ARA對嬰幼兒發育的重要性

1. DHA對嬰幼兒時期視力與腦部的發育是很重要的。針對早產兒和足月兒的研究表示在母乳或奶粉中提供足量的DHA ，對嬰幼兒理想的腦部發育及視力發展及其功能性有關聯。

2. 胎兒腦部主要的生長發育期是從懷孕12周開始至2歲。在這段時間DHA是嬰兒最需要的補充品。

3. 在發育中的嬰兒無法有效率地製造自體所需的DHA

4. 懷孕期間，在發育中的胎兒從胎盤中獲取DHA，出生後則是從母乳中獲得。如果新生兒未從母乳中或添加DHA的奶粉中獲得DHA，其血液中的DHA會很顯著的下降。

5. DHA被認為在母乳成份中，最有可能影響母乳餵食的嬰兒在0-18歲有較 高認知性的成份(與餵食沒有含DHA的嬰兒配方奶粉比較)。

6. 奶粉中添加DHA與ARA顯示了這兩種營養成分是優質的營養來源(對以奶粉餵食的嬰兒而言)，並被許多世界科學機構建議加入嬰兒奶粉中。

The Importance of DHA During Pregnancy & Nursing

DHA is a major structural fatty acid in the brain and retina, and is naturally found in breast milk. It is important for a mother to consume adequate amounts of DHA during pregnancy and while nursing to support her well-being and the health of her infant.

DHA for the Developing Infant

· DHA is important for optimal infant visual and mental development both in utero and throughout infancy.

· Developing infants cannot produce DHA efficiently, and must receive this vital nutrient from the mother through the placenta during pregnancy and in breast milk after birth.

· A workshop sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL) recommended an intake of 300mg/day of DHA for pregnant and nursing women.

· On average, pregnant and nursing women in the U.S. consume 60-80mg of DHA a day, only 20-25% of the intake recommended by the NIH/ISSFAL sponsored workshop.

· Breast milk DHA levels are dependent on the mother's diet. Because of a low DHA dietary intake, American women reportedly have lower DHA levels in their breast milk than the levels recommended for inclusion in infant formulas by a joint Expert Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

· Maternal DHA supplementation was shown to increase the mother's blood and breast milk DHA levels. This, in turn, elevated the blood DHA levels of both the fetus and breast-feeding infant.

· DHA was cited as the likely component of breast milk influencing the significantly higher cognitive outcomes of breast-fed infants through the first 18-years of life (as compared to non-DHA supplemented formula-fed infants).

· Higher levels of DHA in breast milk were also associated with an infant‘s ability to easily adjust to changes in surroundings (measured using Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment scale).

· Infants whose mothers had higher blood DHA levels showed better sleep patterns suggesting greater central nervous system maturity.

· Maternal DHA supplementation resulted in mental development advantages in children including improved psychomotor development (such as eye-hand coordination) at 2.5 years of age and improved attention skills at 5 years of age.

· A study using a statistical model of risk-benefit, designed by Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, estimated that increasing maternal DHA intake by 100mg/day increases child IQ by 0.13 points.

DHA for Maternal Well-being DHA

· DHA supplementation during pregnancy was shown to increase the length of gestation by about six days helping mothers carry to a healthy or full term.

· Increasing dietary intake of DHA during pregnancy and postpartum may help to support a mother's emotional well-being.

The Importance of DHA and ARA in Infant Development

DHA is important for healthy visual and mental development throughout infancy. Studies with both preterm and term infants suggest that adequate DHA nutrition, provided through either breastmilk or DHA-fortified formula, is associated with optimal mental and visual development and function.

· Major brain growth occurs during the second trimester of pregnancy and throughout the first two years of life. During these times, the infant has the greatest need for DHA.

· Developing infants cannot efficiently produce their own DHA.

· Developing infants must obtain DHA through the placenta during pregnancy and from breast milk after birth. After birth, it has been shown that an infant’s blood DHA level drops dramatically if the child does not receive this fatty acid through breast milk or supplemented formula.

· Naturally found in breast milk, DHA was cited as the likely component influencing the significantly higher cognitive outcomes through the first 18-years of life for breast-fed infants (as compared to non-DHA supplemented formula-fed infants).

· DHA and ARA supplemented infant formula was shown to be a good source of these nutrients for formula-fed babies and has been recommended for inclusion in infant formulas by several scientific bodies worldwide.