ARA and DHA – essential building blocks
Arachidonic acid (ARA)
- An omega-6 fatty acid
- Present in the phospholipids of cell membranes
- Abundant in brain, muscles and blood vessels
- Substrate for prostaglandins and leukotrienes
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
- An omega-3 fatty acid
- Abundantly found in brain and retina
- 40% of PUFAs in brain
- 60% of PUFAs in retina
- Supports cell signalling properties, e.g. modulates transport of choline
ARA and DHA – essential nutrients in fetal life
- Selectively transported across the fetoplacental barrier
- Essential nutrients for normal growth and development during fetal life:
- structural components of brain
- needed for retinal development
- anti-inflammatory properties
- regulation of immune responses
- contributing to cell membrane fluidity and integrity
Sufficient and balanced intake is recommended
- At preterm birth, the high placental supply of ARA and DHA is terminated
- ESPGHAN recommends an ample intake in the following amounts:
- ARA intake of 30-100 mg/kg/d
- DHA intake of 30-65 mg/kg/d
- Human breast milk contains ARA:DHA in a balanced 2:1 ratio, but amounts are insufficient
- NeoMega36® provides a sufficient and balanced intake of those nutrients in line with the ESPGHAN recommendation:
- ARA intake of 100 mg/kg/d
- DHA intake of 50 mg/kg/d