It is a polyunsaturated fatty acid long chain, which belongs to the family of Omega-3.
The Omega-3 fatty acids are present naturally in foods like oily fish (tuna, mackerel, sardines …) and play important roles in humans, related to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, among others.
The Omega-3 DHA is found in the membranes of the junctions between neurons (brain cells) and cells (photoreceptors), which are in the eye and are responsible for vision.
Baby foods including Omega-3 fatty acid DHA in proportions similar to breast milk were positively correlated with the growth in various studies (Carlson et al., 2000). They suggest that Omega-3 fatty acid DHA may be one of the factors that promote childhood.
DHA influences the development of cells in the retina, and thus has an important role in the development of visual acuity (Sangiovanni et al., 2000, Simmer, 2000), but has not been demonstrated in diseases with refraction. A diet rich in Omega-3 DHA seems to affect positively to visual acuity, mainly influences the speed of development.
All studies seem to demonstrate the importance of including Omega-3 fatty acid DHA in the diet of children and the sooner the better. As documented in clinical trials, may positively affect the central nervous system development, and therefore, in their learning ability, cognitive development and improvement of visual acuity, although more studies are needed to confirm these findings.
