Are we missing out on giving our children a brighter future?  UK mothers are unaware of the beneficial role of omegas
in infant development
A recent European survey reveals that UK mums and mums-to-be are unaware of
the benefits of DHA Omega-3s. DHA omega-3 is a fatty acid that supports brain,
eye and cardiovascular health throughout life. Consuming DHA omega-3 and AA
omega-6 fatty acids, is important for good health. DHA omega-3 is important
for optimal brain, eye and nervous system development in infants.i,ii,iii,iv AA omega-6
is also important for proper brain development. Major infant brain growth occurs
during pregnancy and throughout the first two years of life. During these times,
infants have the greatest need for DHA omega-3 and/or AA omega-6.v,iv,vii,viii
The Baby Europe surveyix, commissioned by Martek Biosciences, interviewed 1,500
pregnant women and new mothers in the UK, France and Germany to find out how
much they knew about the role of omegas in infant development. The survey highlighted
that although there was a general understanding of omegas in all three countries,
surprisingly the majority of women interviewed did not know how important these
fatty acids are in infant development and health.
"The key message from this survey is that health professionals and women
have limited awareness of the role of omegas in infant development" says
Professor Stewart Forsyth, Consultant Paediatrician and Medical Director, Ninewells
Hospital and Medical School, Dundee. "Over the last 10 years many research
studies have highlighted the importance of DHA omega-3 and AA omega-6 in infant
development and more recent research has indicated potential long-term benefits.
It is therefore important that health professionals are aware of this information
and able to include the role of omegas when they offer nutritional advice to
pregnant and lactating women".
The Baby Europe survey found that even though over 70 percent of UK women claimed
that they received very useful advice from their GPs or midwives about nutrition
in general, over three quarters of women in the UK were not advised by their
healthcare professional to include omega-3 fatty acids in their diet during
pregnancy or breastfeeding.
In addition, a second surveyix of midwives, obstetricians, paediatric nurses
and health visitors in the UK, France and Germany, found that although UK midwives
are leading the way in recommending omegas to their patients, the actual numbers
were very low. For example, just under one in five UK midwives, only 3 percent
of German midwives, and no French midwives recommend omega-3 fatty acids as
an important part of nutrition for pregnant women and new mothers.
- Only 33 percent of French women were aware of DHA omega-3, versus
72 percent of UK women
- Although nearly three quarters of UK women are aware of DHA omega-3,
over 50 percent do not link this fatty acid to brain development and
only 6 percent are aware of its role in eye development
- In France and Germany only 14 percent of French women and 19 percent
of German women link DHA omega-3 to brain development
- There is even less knowledge of AA omega-6. Only 12 percent of UK
respondents had even heard of AA omega-6, with just below half aware
of its function, in comparison to an even lower 6 percent of French
respondents
- UK midwives play a pivotal role in offering nutritional advice to
women in the UK, however, their knowledge of the benefits of omegas
is much lower than their German counterparts’
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For additional information on DHA omega-3 and AA omega-6 please visit www.dhababy.com
i Martinez M. Tissue levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids during early human development. Pediatr, 1992.120:S129-38.
ii Lauritzen L, et al. The essentiality of long chain n-3 fatty acids in relation to development and function of the brain and retina. Prog Lipid Res, 2001. 40:1-94.
iii Salem, Jr. N, et al. Mechanisms of action of docosahexaenoic acid in the nervous system. Lipids, 2001. 36:945-59.
iv Crawford MA. The role of essential fatty acids in neural development: implications for perinatal nutrition. Am J Clin Nutr, 1993. 57:703S-709S.
v Dobbing J and Sands J. 1973. Quantitative growth and development of the human brain. Arch Dis Child 48:757-767.
vi Dutta-Roy AK. Transport mechanisms for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the human placenta. Am J Clin Nutr, 2000. 71:315S-22S.
vii Clandinin MT, et al. Intrauterine fatty acid accretion rates in human brain: implications for fatty acid requirements. Early Hum Dev, 1980. 4:121-9.
viii Putnam J, et al. The effect of variations in dietary fatty acids on the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in human infants. Am J Clin Nutr, 1982. 36:106-114.
ix Baby Europe Consumer and Health Professional Survey. Conducted by GfK NOP (2006).
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DHA omega-3 is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that serves as a primary building block for the brain and the eye and supports brain, eye and cardiovascular health throughout life. There is a large and growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that people of all ages, from infants to aging adults, benefit from an adequate supply of DHA omega-3 in the diet. Scientific reviews have noted the importance of DHA omega-3 in proper brain and eye development and function, and there are studies currently underway to evaluate its role in decreasing the prevalence of certain neurological disorders.Further information on sources of omega-3 fatty acids is available from the British Nutrition Foundation's website: http://www.nutrition.org.uk
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