DHA is an important component of neural and retinal membranes and during the later part of gestation and early postnatal life, DHA accumulates rapidly in the brain and retina68. Increased dietary requirements of omega 3 fatty acids, primarily DHA, are recommended in the last trimester of pregnancy and pregnant women are advised to consume 100-300 mg DHA/day69,42.

Higher visual acuity following DHA supplementation has been observed for both term and healthy pre-term infants70. A meta-analysis review of data published from 1965-1999 focused on the effect of omega 3 supplementation on visual acuity in healthy pre-term infants71 and reported higher acuity in DHA supplemented groups. A second systematic review in healthy full term infants72 included twelve studies and reported higher visual acuity at 2 months of age in DHA supplemented infants versus non-supplemented infants.

In a recent double-blinded, randomized controlled trial73, 103 full-term infants were randomly allocated to consume formula at day 5 with no supplemented DHA, or with supplemented DHA and AA. Measures of visual acuity in the DHA supplemented group were significantly higher at ages 6, 17, 26, and 52 weeks. Red blood cell levels of DHA in the DHA group was found to be more than double and triple at ages 17 and 39 weeks, respectively. Supplementation with DHA during the first year of life appears to result in beneficial outcomes in visual function.

Kelley Fitzpatrick
Director of Health & Nutrition
Flax Canada