DHA and ARA in Formula: Crucial Chemicals in Breastmilk

There is currently no debate about what is better for an infant: Breast milk or formula. It is widely believed in the United States these days that nothing can compare to breast milk. However, these two sources of food are becoming more and more similar.

Two important ingredients have been discovered in breast milk. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid) are the most prevalent long chain fatty acids found in human breast milk. They are also the most prevalent fatty acids found in the brain, and DHA is an important component in the retina of the eye.

Many complications have been linked with the absence of these two chemicals. Problems such as low intelligence, behavior problems, and attention deficit have been seen more in children who are formula fed. The studies on this subject have shown the children who have had formula fortified with the DHA and ARA have not had these problems.

Research on this subject has produced results which more than prove the benefits of these components in the diet of an infant.

"Research funded by the National Institutes of Child Health and Development (NICHD) found that infants fed formula with DHA and ARA at the levels recommended by the World Health Organization scored approximately seven points higher on a 100-point scale on a test of mental development at 18-months compared to infants fed the control formula without added DHA and ARA. The study also found that infants fed formula with DHA and ARA at these levels had improved visual acuity equal to about one line on a vision chart during the first year" (www.drgreene.com).

There are other credible studies which have also illustrated the importance and benefits of these two components.

"A study published in the March 2002 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that among babies who nurse for 6 weeks and then wean to formula, DHA and ARA in the formula at the right levels continues to make a difference. These babies were followed for a year, and throughout the study those babies who had the enhanced formula had better vision than those who had traditional formula" (www.drgreene.com).