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Efficacy and Safety of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Arachidonic Acid Addition to Infant Formulas: Can One Buy Better Vision and Intelligence?

Departments of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

Address correspondence to: Dr. Winston Koo, Department of Pediatrics, Hutzel Hospital, 4707 St Antoine Blvd, Detroit, MI 48201. E-mail: wkoo{at}wayne.edu

ABSTRACT

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) namely arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) are highly concentrated in the phospholipid bilayer of biologically active brain and retinal neural membranes and are important in phototransduction and neuronal function. The rationale for adding these LCPUFA to infant formula (IF) was primarily because of their presence in large quantities in the retina and brain and in human milk. In addition, infants fed IF containing LCPUFA and breastfed infants have comparable ARA and DHA levels in red cell and plasma, in contrast to the lower ARA and DHA levels in those fed IF containing only the essential fatty acids: linoleic (LA, 18:2n-6) and linolenic (LNA, 18:3n-3), the precursors to ARA and DHA, respectively. However, functional benefits in particular visual or neural development from IF containing LCPUFA remains controversial. Potential for excessive and/or imbalanced intake of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids exists with increasing fortification of LCPUFA to infant foods other than IF.

Key words: infant formula, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid

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