About DHA
DHA is an essential fatty acid that plays an important role in the brain and eye development of unborn babies.7-9 Unfortunately, the majority of American women do not get the recommended level of 300 mg of DHA per day.1
Benefits of DHA
While DHA has many benefits for everyone, it is especially important for you during pregnancy and after the birth of your child if you plan to breastfeed.
- DHA intake during pregnancy has been shown to increase length of pregnancy by up to six days, which can be important for the full development of your baby2
- Supplementing with DHA during pregnancy and after delivery may help to reduce post-partum depression.3
- DHA intake during pregnancy and while breastfeeding has been linked to improved problem-solving tasks at age 9 months and improved intelligence of children at 4 years of age4,9
- A trend towards increased newborn weight and size has been associated with DHA intake by pregnant women2
- Visual acuity at 60 days after birth was superior in babies of mothers who took DHA during pregnancy compared to babies of mothers who did not8
DHA is found in certain foods, including some fish. Due to concerns about mercury intake, many people prefer to obtain DHA from supplements. It is important to look for the source of the DHA in any product, including prenatal vitamins. The DHA in CitraNatal® is from an all-natural plant source.
Concerns about DHA from fish sources
Many products on the market contain DHA supplements developed from fish sources. While fish are a great source of DHA and many other important nutrients, they can also ingest harmful substances such as mercury and PCBs from the smaller fish they eat.
PCBs are chemicals that were used in a variety of products in the United States until 1977. They've been shown to cause cancer in animals and have been associated with a number of effects on the human immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and other parts of the body.5
Companies that include fish oil in their products as a source of DHA try to minimize the effects of PCBs by refining the oil; however, research shows that PCBs cannot be removed completely. In fact, a recent study demonstrated that many over the counter supplements on the market contain some trace PCB residues.6
DHA from plant sources
Fortunately, there are other ways to supplement DHA. While many people believe that fish produce their own DHA, it actually comes from marine algae they ingest. Going straight to the plant source allows manufacturers to provide the benefits of DHA without the added risks.
life'sDHA™: the pure, preformed choice
The DHA in CitraNatal® products is life'sDHA™, a proprietary DHA made from an all-natural plant source.
life'sDHA™ is the same DHA that is contained in the leading infant formulas as well as a number of commercial food products in the United States. Plant-derived DHA has not been associated with detectable residues of dangerous chemicals.
Learn about CitraNatal vitamins with DHA.
- Simopoulos AP, Leaf A, Salem N Jr. Workshop on the Essentiality of and Recommended Dietary Intakes for Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. J Am Coll Nutr. 1999 Oct;18(5):487-9.
- Smuts CM, Huang M, Mundy D, Plasse T, Major S, Carlson SE. A randomized trial of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Mar;101(3):469-79.]
- Otto SJ, de Groot RH, Hornstra G. Increased risk of postpartum depressive symptoms is associated with slower normalization after pregnancy of the functional docosahexaenoic acid status. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2003 Oct;69(4):237-43.
- Helland IB, Smith L, Saarem K, Saugstad OD, Drevon CA. Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children's IQ at 4 years of age. Pediatrics. 2003 Jan;111(1):e39-44.
- Health Effects of PCBs [Internet]. EPA; 2008 Aug 8. Available from: http://www.epa.gov/wastes/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/effects.htm
- Shim, SM, Santerre CR, Burgess JR, Deardorff DC. Omega-3 fatty acids and total polychlorinated biphenyls in 26 dietary supplements. Food Sci. 2003; 68:2436-2440.
- Jacobson JL, Jacobson SW, Muckle G, Kaplan-Estrin M, Ayotte P, Dewailly E. Beneficial effects of a polyunsaturated fatty acid on infant development: evidence from the inuit of arctic Quebec. J Pediatr. 2008 Mar;152(3):356-64. Epub 2007 Oct 22.
- Innis SM, Friesen RW. Essential n-3 fatty acids in pregnant women and early visual acuity maturation in term infants. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Mar;87(3):548-57.
- Judge MP, Harel O, Lammi-Keefe CJ. Maternal consumption of a docosahexaenoic acid-containing functional food during pregnancy: benefit for infant performance on problem-solving but not on recognition memory tasks at age 9 mo. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;85(6):1572-7.
Expecting? Estimate your due date with this online pregnancy wheel.
Click here for an interactive guide to a baby's growth and development during a typical pregnancy.
More than 500,000 babies are born too soon each year. Some are so small they struggle to survive. This year, Mission Pharmacal is joining forces with the March of Dimes* as a National Corporate Sponsor to help raise awareness about the growing crisis of premature birth. To learn more and help us fight prematurity, click on the links below. For more than 60 years, Mission Pharmacal has been committed to providing products for healthy women and healthy babies.
