Is too much DHA bad for children

Dear Dr. Donya,

I would like to know if there is any negative effect from the presence of too much DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) compound in my two-year-old son's diet. He drinks milk three times a day, or about 510 ml. Now, I am giving him Prolacta DHA, plus Seven Seas which also contains DHA. Does neucleotide stand for DHA? Please advise. Thank you.

-- Kim C.

Dear Kim,

Neucleotide is different from DHA. Neucleotide is any of several compounds that consist of sugar (a ribose or deoxyribose) joined to protein (a purine or pyrimidine base) and to a phosphate group and that are the basic structural units of RNA and DNA.

DHA is fatty acid present in human breast milk. DHA is known to play a role in the development of the nervous system as well as the brain and eyes retina function. Because of this knowledge, DHA is being added to formula milk throughout Asia and Europe. The NICHD (US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) is still testing DHA to determine its effect on child intelligence.

The best source for children to get DHA is in mother's milk and foods such as tuna, salmon, trout, marine oil or fish oil. There is no exact amount of how much DHA you should take. If his meals are the foods named above he should have enough.

-- Dr. Donya