The importance of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in children is one of the frequently asked questions by our customers. We decided to summarize some information in this article. At the same time we describe the difference between Kids DHA + D3/K2 and Kids Omega 3 supplements, and when to choose each other.
Article at the glance:
- Dietary supplement use during pregnancy and in children
- Importance of DHA
- DHA for brain and cognitive development
- Ensuring sufficient DHA during pregnancy
- DHA for vision development
- Difference between products Kids Omega 3 and Kids DHA + D3/K2
- Conclusion
Dietary supplement use during pregnancy and in children
Ensuring the intake of all necessary nutrients only from commonly available, modern and mostly highly processed food is very difficult nowadays. According to surveys, pregnant women, lactating women and the smallest children are the most at-risk group in malnutrition and from the point of view of acute and future health risks due to insufficient nutrition.
In order to avoid deficits of some key nutrients, vitamin D and vitamin K are routinely administered in pediatric practice. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is also often discussed in connection with appropriate supplementation in children.
"It is necessary to realize that insufficient nutrition in the smallest children not only creates an acute risk of malnutrition and associated health consequences (low immune functions, developmental defects, etc.), but also increases the risk of future diseases in adulthood, so-called fetal and nutritional programming." explains Jakub Přibyl, nutritional specialist and author of Trime supplement's formulas. "A balanced diet and smartly chosen supplementation will thus help meet the nutritional needs and enable the normal development of infants and toddlers."
Importance of DHA
While adults need a balanced ratio of both components of the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, DHA is especially crucial for children. DHA represents a structural fatty acid found in the human brain, skin and retina. This semi-essential fatty acid is necessary for ensuring the normal development of the central nervous system and supports, for example, the proper functioning of the brain, cognitive functions, memory and vision.
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) confirms the importance of DHA in relation to normal brain development. For pregnant women, lactating women and children under 2 years of age, there is a daily reference dose for the intake of DHA fatty acid.
DHA for brain and cognitive development
DHA is an important building block that affects communication between neurons in the brain. During pregnancy and in the first few years of life, when the baby's brain develops very quickly, DHA is especially important to ensure normal brain growth and development. Adequate DHA intake during early childhood is associated with better cognitive outcomes (for example, memory and sustained attention).
"In children with a deficiency of omega-3, or DHA, there is a risk that the development of central nervous system functions will not be normal and incorrect psychomotor development may occur, including a reduction in the intelligence quotient." adds Jakub Přibyl.
Ensuring sufficient DHA during pregnancy
Newborn and breastfed children are reliant on external sources of DHA, most commonly through breast milk. The content of DHA in breast milk varies and depends on the mother's own DHA intake. Mothers consuming modern eastern diets rich in omega-6 are typically deficient in DHA and so they have lower levels of DHA in their breast milk. DHA supplementation during pregnancy may also reduce the risk of preterm birth and the risk of low birth weight in the newborn. The intake of omega-3 fatty acids is important not only for the organism of the newborn, dependent on the intake of nutrients from breast milk, but also for the mother. DHA has been shown to prevent depressed mood in late pregnancy and early postpartum.
DHA for vision development
DHA is also a structural component of the retina of the eye and helps in the development and maintenance of healthy vision. Sufficient intake of this fatty acid in children is associated with better visual acuity and a reduced risk of vision problems.
Difference between products Kids Omega 3 and Kids DHA + D3/K2
Our children's product line differs from food supplements for adults in both the composition and concentration of active substances, as well as their ratios. The composition is adapted to the nutritional profile of the smallest children from the age of 12 months and is designed in such a way that this preventive supplementation prevents the occurrence of a dangerous deficit.
Kids DHA + D3/K2 is a more complex product combining the semi-essential fatty acid DHA with vitamins D3 and K2 and covers the daily required dose of all these 3 key nutrients.
Kids Omega 3 supplement serves rather to seasonally cover the omega-3 DHA fatty acid itself. Its use may be more appropriate during the summer, when children naturally synthesize vitamin D by exposing their skin to sunlight.
So there is no need to use both supplements at the same time. Both Kids Omega 3 and Kids DHA + D3/K2 contain the same omega-3 DHA fatty acid. However, the Kids DHA + D3/K2 supplement also contains vitamins D3 and K2 that are often deficient.
Conclusion
Omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained naturally from food, for example, wild fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines). Some children consume these foods only in small quantities. And moreover, the frequent consumption is not recommended for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children, because of the possible increased burden of heavy metals. From this point of view, it is much better to ensure sufficient intake through a dietary supplement.
You can watch our short webinar where Jakub Přibyl (author of Trime supplement formulas) answers the most frequently asked questions regarding the children's product line.
Sources:
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Jackson KH, Harris WS. A Prenatal DHA Test to Help Identify Women at Increased Risk for Early Preterm Birth: A Proposal. Nutrients. 2018 Dec 6;10(12):1933. doi: 10.3390/nu10121933. PMID: 30563193; PMCID: PMC6316227.
Zhang, MM., Zou, Y., Li, SM. et al. The efficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acids on depressive symptoms in perinatal women: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Transl Psychiatry 10, 193 (2020).
Willatts P, Forsyth S, Agostoni C, Casaer P, Riva E, Boehm G. Effects of long-chain PUFA supplementation in infant formula on cognitive function in later childhood. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Aug;98(2):536S-42S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.038612. PMID: 23783296.