DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is found in every cell in our bodies. It is critical for brain, eye, immune system and central nervous system development and functioning. During pregnancy, developing babies rely on their mothers to get needed DHA. Since DHA is derived from the foods we eat, the content of DHA in a mother's diet determines the amount of DHA passed on to her developing baby. Unfortunately, the majority of pregnant women in the U.S. fail to get the recommended amount of DHA in their diets and DHA is not found in most prenatal vitamins.

 

Current research suggests adequate levels of DHA may help increase a developing baby’s cognitive functioning, reduce the risk of pre-term labor and decrease the risk of postpartum depression*. Children whose mothers took a DHA supplement during pregnancy scored higher on intelligence tests at four years of age and had advanced attention spans in their second year of life*.