Over the past decade, controlled clinical trials have shown that infants receiving docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), either through breast milk or supplemented formula, experienced positive visual and mental benefits. Clinical evidence continues to indicate that sufficient DHA before and after birth is key for the baby’s optimal visual and intellectual development.

What’s more, a new clinical study completed at The Retina Foundation of the Southwest has revealed some particularly noteworthy findings.¹ The Retina Foundation study results supported earlier observational studies that link DHA with improved visual and mental development. The study also suggested the value of a new nutritional option – the incremental benefits of DHA-supplemented solid food. The findings clearly demonstrated a positive cumulative effect from providing this important nutrient to babies continuously throughout the first year of life.

Each study group in this clinical trial had a sample size of 25 babies. Both groups were solely breast-fed for the first six months of life and completely weaned between nine and 12 months of age. The control group’s diet was supplemented with jarred baby food containing no DHA. The test group’s diet was supplemented with jarred baby food containing DHA in levels consistent with those found in breast milk.

The study results were profound. Breast-fed infants weaned to DHA-enriched baby foods (the test group) had higher levels of DHA in their red blood cells and better sweep visual acuity (a measure of maturation of the retina and visual cortex) at 12 months of age. These babies performed 1.5 times better on visual acuity tests than babies whose sole source of DHA was breast milk.

“DHA is an important nutrient throughout life. But it’s especially vital during early childhood when the mind and body are still developing,” notes Christine Wood, MD, pediatrician and author of How to Get Kids to Eat Great and Love It! “This study has shown that DHA is important for a child’s developing vision throughout the first year of life.” This study also clearly suggests the value of DHA supplementation for the entire first year of life, including continuing supplementation as the baby transitions to solid food.

Mothers’ DHA Levels Decline After the First Pregnancy
In a related area of research, recent studies have shown that maternal DHA status declines after each successive pregnancy, which may result in a lower neonatal DHA status.² The absolute (mg/L) and relative (percent of total fatty acids) amounts of DHA in maternal plasma phospholipids are significantly lower in mothers who have given multiple births than in mothers having their first child.

In addition, studies have suggested that infants born to women who have had multiple pregnancies have significantly less DHA in their umbilical tissue phospholipids than do first-born infants.³ Prenatal and early-postnatal DHA status is thought to have important influences on neurological and cognitive development. Incomplete replenishment of the mother’s DHA stores after delivery may explain, at least in part, the observation that first-born children generally do better than their younger siblings on several developmental, behavioral and intelligence tests.^4-7

In light of what is now known about declining maternal DHA levels with successive births, providing DHA supplementation would seem to be especially beneficial for infants with older siblings.

Beech-Nut was the first to sell baby food with DHA in the United States. Beech-Nut DHA plus⁺ enables mothers to ensure that their babies get every advantage for optimal visual and mental development. DHA becomes especially important when the mother is no longer breastfeeding.   

Beech-Nut DHA plus⁺ is made with an all-natural vegetable source of DHA, and also contains an all-natural prebiotic, which helps support babies’ digestive health by stimulating the growth of “good” bacteria.

Beech-Nut DHA plus⁺ is made for babies six months and older and is available in seven varieties. Each four-ounce jar contains no less than 18 mg of DHA.

1. Maturation of Visual Acuity in Breast-Fed Term Infants Weaned to Baby Food Containing DHA-Enriched Egg Yolk, Hoffman DR, et al., Retina Foundation of the Southwest, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
2. Eur J Clin Nutr 1997 Aug; 51(8): 548-53. Al MD, van Houwelingen AC, Hornstra G.: Relation between birth order and the maternal and neonatal docosahexaenoic acid status.
3. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 71 (5 Suppl): 1262S-9S. Hornstra G.: Essential fatty acids in mothers and their neonates.
4. Lancet 1992; 339: 261–4. Lucas A, Morley R, Cole TJ, Lister G, Leeson-Payne C.:  Breast milk and subsequent intelligence quotient in children born preterm.
5. Dev Med Child Neurol 1978; 20:421–42. Rodgers B: Feeding in infancy and later ability and attainment: a longitudinal study.
6. Science 1973; 182:1096–101. Belmont L, Marolla FA: Birth order, family size and intelligence.
7. Lancet 1996; 347:1072–5. Gale CR, Martyn CN.: Breast feeding, dummy use and intelligence.