Formula additives no help to infants<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Adding DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and AA
\n(arachidonic acid) to food formulas will not improve a baby's
\nvision and nervous system, experts have said.<\/p>\n
The discovery that rejected this common assumption was put
\nforward by Alan Lucas, director of the childhood nutrition center
\nat the London's Institute of Child Health, during the 11th
\nnational congress for child health science in Jakarta last week.<\/p>\n
This corresponds with the results of the Ross Pediatric Lipid
\nStudy's research in the United States in 1997 that demonstrated
\nthat there is no difference in the growth and visual functions of
\nbabies who are given DHA and AA during the first 12 months.<\/p>\n
In 1998, expert committees in the United States and Canada
\nalso concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support
\nadding DHA and AA to infant formulas.<\/p>\n
"Until its safety and efficacy could be proven, the council of
\nexperts did not recommend the routine addition of DHA and AA to
\nformulas for full-term infants."<\/p>\n
Modern infant formulas generally contain the essential fatty
\nacids that are the precursor to DHA and AA. The enzymes required
\nfor the biosynthesis of AA and DHA from linoleic acid (LA) and
\nalpha linolenic acid (LNA) are present in the central nervous
\nsystem and the liver.<\/p>\n
Two recent trials on preterm infants provide reassurance that
\naddition of both DHA and AA to preterm formulas is not associated
\nwith growth suppression. One of these studies failed to
\ndemonstrate hypothesized efficacy on visual development. A large
\nstudy involving 450 infants failed to show any impact on
\nneurodevelopment after DHA and AA was taken for six months until
\nthe age of 18 months.<\/p>\n
Recommendations to add AA and DHA to infant formulas were
\nfirst made in 1991 and were based largely on the composition of
\nhuman milk, autopsy studies on DHA and AA levels in neutral
\ntissue, and results from the initial studies with preterm infants
\nfed formulas containing DHA (without AA).<\/p>\n
In 1995, results of clinical studies regarding whether to add
\nthose substances to standard formulas began to appear.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/formula-additives-no-help-to-infants-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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