ARE INFANT FORMULAS WITH DHA AND ARA SAFE?
When time comes to feed your baby with formula, you have probably asked yourself a question what is the best one and if your newborn really need a formula containing DHA and ARA. First of all, let’s find out what are they DHA and ARA.
DHA means docosahexaenoic acid and ARA stands for arachidonic acid. These are long-chain fatty acids that are found in breastmilk, as well as in some foods, like fish or eggs. Each of them plays an important role in our body and health through the whole life.
DHA is well known as a form of Omega 3 fatty acids. They are major in central nervous system development.
The human body can make small amounts of DHA and ARA. However, both of them play a very important role in early brain and eye development. And you should know that the levels of DHA and ARA increase throughout the first two years of life.
Breastfeed babies get higher level of DHA and ARA in comparison to formula-fed infants. The chemical structure of extracted DHA and ARA isn’t the same as human DHA and ARA. But nevertheless almost all infant formulas are now fortified with pre-formed DHA and ARA. It is important to know that those babies who are taking formula with DHA and ARA have a reduced risk of skin and respiratory allergies. Moreover, babies who are fed with a formula containing DHA and ARA may have fewer respiratory illnesses. As well mothers with allergies which are feeding their babies with these supplements reduces the risk of asthma and wheezing in their infants.
There are no bad effects of supplementing infant formula with DHA and ARA. However, formula with DHA and ARA is the most helpful for premature infants. Because those babies who were born earlier are at the risk of DHA deficiency.
It is always difficult to make a decision which formula to give your baby. Some parents may not use it because formula with DHA and ARA are a little more expensive than formula without these supplements. But now almost all formulas contain DHA and ARA.
Formula-feeding mothers will need to make their own choice what they want to give their babies.
View our product table to see which European formulas have these fatty acids: https://bitly.su/4zlF
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