Important for fetal mental development
Children's mental development may be influenced by their mothers' diet during pregnancy, and by whether the child has been breast fed or received formula. Premature infants need breast milk from mothers that have sufficient amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in their diet or, alternatively, an infant formula fortified with omega-3 fatty acids.
Last three months of pregnancy through first six months after birth
The human brain and the retina of the eye consist largely of fatty tissue characterized by long-chain polyunsaturates. In addition to providing energy, the fatty acids in our diet provide important building blocks for the brain and the retina of the eye. To optimize the development of the fetus and the infant, it is important to ensure a sufficient intake of omega-3 fatty acids, especially during the last trimester of pregnancy and the first six months after birth. To accomplish this, most mothers-to-be need to include omega-3 fatty acids in their diet during their pregnancy and breastfeeding period.
Omega-3 assures the intellectual development
Children born at term demonstrate a difference in mental development between those who get sufficient omega-3 fatty acids from breast milk or fortified infant formula, and those who received non-fortified infant formula based solely on vegetable oils which are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, but low in omega-3 fatty acids. It has convincingly been proven that children who are born at term and get sufficient amounts of omega-3 fatty acids tend to have a better intellectual capacity than children who receive standard infant formulae (P Willatts, JS Forsyth, MK DiModugno, S Varma, M Colvin (1998), University of Dundee, Scotland, The Lancet 28 Aug. 1998).
Premature infants run a high risk of spending their first months of life in hospital. The handicap of being born prematurely may even persist throughout their lifetimes. When, in addition to struggling with prematurely, these children are given infant formula without omega-3 fatty acids, they risk permanent reductions in their mental and visual development. It has also been shown that individuals born prematurely are more prone to develop hypertension later in life, and insufficiently treated hypertension is a risk factor for the premature development of coronary heart disease. (Siewert-delle A. Long term renal function in primary hypertension. Acad. thesis University of Gothenburg 1998).
