Consumers need to correctly understand DHA

Our reporter Liu Ruxin

In recent years, DHA is arguably one of the hottest topics being hyped

DHA, the full name of docosahexaenoic acid, is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that is very important to the human body.

The "Expert Consensus on DHA Supplementation for Maternal and Infant and Young Children in China" (hereinafter referred to as the consensus) has such an elaboration: The FAO expert committee pointed out that although DHA is a non-essential fatty acid and can be synthesized from α-linolenic acid, its conversion rate is low and it is not suitable for Because fetal brain development and retinal development are critical, DHA can also be considered a conditional "essential fatty acid" for pregnant and lactating women

Our reporter's investigation found that many businesses, well-known Internet celebrities, anchors, etc.

How much DHA supplement is appropriate? The World Health Organization recommends that the intake of DHA should be 20 mg/kg based on body weight for infants and young children, 40 mg/kg per day for premature infants, and at least 220 mg per day for healthy people

As babies get older, they can get DHA from whole foods

According to the "National Food Safety Standard for the Use of Food Nutrition Fortifiers" (GB14880-2012), the content of DHA in the modulated milk powder and modulated cream powder (only for children's milk powder) must be less than or equal to 0.

According to Liu Changwei, a child nutritionist from the Clinical Nutrition Department of Nanjing Children's Hospital, excessive supplementation of DHA may also cause other problems, because DHA is not stable and is easily oxidized in the body.

The intake of any nutrient must be in moderation, once a nutrient intake is too much, it will break the nutritional balance required by the body

Responsible editor: Xiao Zhihan Review: Peng Zonglu