What is the role of dha supplementation for pregnant women?
This question is very important. Many people know the importance of folic acid supplementation for women from the beginning of pregnancy, and know that multivitamin tablets should be supplemented during pregnancy in the middle and late pregnancy and lactation. These are all suggestions from authoritative organizations. However, people know little about DHA. In fact, DHA supplementary advice for pregnant women and lactating mothers has basically formed knowledge in authoritative institutions at home and abroad. For example, in February this year, China just released "DHA Supplementary Expert Knowledge for Pregnant Women and Infants in China * * *", so it is necessary to have a good science popularization.
DHA is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid with the scientific name docosahexaenoic acid. It is the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid in retinal photoreceptors, and also has the function of promoting fetal brain development. Therefore, adequate intake of DHA by pregnant women and lactating mothers is very important for the development of fetal brain and optic nerve.
Many studies have also confirmed the importance of DHA supplementation for pregnant women and nursing mothers. A study by Professor Liu Jian from the School of Life Sciences of Xi Jiaotong University shows that maternal DHA supplementation during pregnancy can effectively improve the activity of mitochondria in the hippocampus of the fetus, maintain the number of hippocampal neurons in the offspring's brain, and ultimately effectively improve the learning and memory ability of the offspring. Some studies have also found that the DHA content in breast-feeding mothers' milk can be significantly increased, so that babies can get more DHA.
The expert committees of FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and the International Association of Perinatal Medicine suggest that the daily intake of DHA for pregnant women and nursing mothers should not be less than 200mg. The 20 13 edition of the Reference Intake of Dietary Nutrients for China Residents also suggests that pregnant women and lactating women should consume 200mg DHA every day.