Omega-3 Treatment Helpful for Premature Infants

Omega-3 Treatment helpful for Premature infants

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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain fatty acid called omega-3, a nutrient that helps to develop the brain. Over half of the brain is fat and a quarter of the fat is made up of DHA, which means that premature babies naturally would not have the normal amount of DHA in their brains, which can lead to developmental problems. Outside the body, DHA is also found in certain kinds of fish and organ meats and smaller fatty acid chains found in oils, walnuts, and leafy greens, and can be assembled by the body once it is strong enough for the task. Preemies aren’t able to assemble new DHA individually and the researchers hoped that adding DHA to their diets could improve their health significantly.

Makrides also notes that her hospital is going to start offering the DHA supplementation diet to its premature babies and because no harmful side effects have been proven with the addition of DHA in your diet, don’t be surprised if doctors and hospitals in the United States start prescribing omega-3 rich foods for women who are already pregnant or for those who are hoping to get pregnant. However, please always ask your doctor before taking supplements on your own that may interact with other medications.