It seems that every time I turn around, I discover more products with added DHA. First it was prenatal supplements and infant formulas. Now it's added to toddler formulas, toddler foods, toddler multivitamins, fruit juices, and milk.
What is DHA?
DHA stands for docosahexaenoic acid, a fatty acid that occurs naturally in microalgae, which is typically eaten by fish. Once digested by the fish, it moves up the food chain, becoming more and more concentrated, until it is consumed by humans. In humans, DHA is known to have a variety of health benefits. The most commonly discussed benefits for adults are related to heart and cardiovascular health. For women, DHA can reduce symptoms of depression, specifically in the post-partum period. In infants and toddlers, DHA is known to be essential for brain and eye development.
So why is it added to infant formulas?
The current explanation for adding it to formulas maintains that in cultures where women eat a lot of fish during pregnancy and nursing, DHA is more available to the infants both in utero and through nursing. But in America, many women do not eat significant levels of fish--or are warned against eating fish for fear of mercury poisoning. American women also often rely on infant formulas instead of nursing for medical, professional, or personal reasons. Therefore, DHA has become the "superfood" additive, if you will, to infant dietary products.
A history of the addition of DHA to infant formulas, however, reveals a different aspect, too. As with healthy children and adults, healthy full-term infants are apparently able to create DHA from precursor fatty acids. Low-term and preterm infants, however, are not able to create as much as their body requires, so DHA was added to infant formulas. At first, it was tuna oil. Lately, it has been synthetic oil.
But is it safe?
The real question should not be "Is DHA safe?" rather, "Is synthetic DHA safe?"
Theoretically, the DHA manufactured in a laboratory directly from microalgae (also known as Crypthecodinium cohnii) and added to infant products should be completely harmless for all babies. After all, naturally occurring DHA begins in microalgae, too, so what is the difference between adding microalgal DHA to infant supplements instead of fish-oil DHA?
No one knows why, but there is a difference. Perhaps the difference lies in how the DHA is processed. No one knows exactly how a fish processes DHA; therefore, any laboratory processing of DHA must involve synthetic chemicals.
How does this difference impact infants?
First, according to an Australian study, the synthetic oils caused a significant increase in the liver and spleen weights of infants. While this weight increase apparently did not affect the organs' ability to function correctly at the time of research, the reason for this increase and the possible risks associated with it are still unclear.
Secondly, infants given synthetic DHA gained weight and grew faster than infants given natural (fish-oil) DHA. And in America, bigger is often better.
Or is it? For the vast majority of infants, no measurable difference between synthetic and natural DHA was established other than weight gain (over all and in regard to their livers and spleens). But for the GERD baby, the difference was monumental.
In a recent study published by the Cornucopia Institute, research drew a direct line between the presence of synthetic DHA in infant formulas and the presence of GERD in babies. GERD babies who were taken off formulas with synthetic DHA demonstrated a remarkable recovery from their symptoms, while GERD babies left on the synthetic formulas did not. In addition, other studies documenting the rise in the number of GERD babies diagnosed show an eerily similar pattern regarding the rise of GERD and the presence of synthetic DHA in infant formulas.
What is the solution?
One solution would be for parents of GERD babies using formula to feed their babies only the formulas that have added iron, not DHA. Unfortunately, within the past two years most of the major formula makers in America have discontinued making DHA-free formulas. (Ironically, some of these same companies still manufacture DHA-free formulas for other countries, Canada included.) And given the evidence that DHA is essential for infant brain and eye development, no formula company is interested in reversing their current trend of adding DHA.
The Case for Fish-Oil DHA
But there is hope. Other studies, and my own personal experience, indicate that pediatric GERD patients do well when taking natural DHA (fish oil) supplements. In other words, natural DHA does not seem to trigger GERD symptoms, and it provides GERD babies with all the important benefits of brain and eye development. Fish oil is already making an appearance as the DHA supplement in toddler formulas: it is perhaps not a far leap in logic until it appears in infant formulas, too.
And there is another benefit to fish oil DHA. Autoimmune research indicates that a high DHA fish-oil diet can actually slow or stop the production of cytokines--the chemicals recently tied to GERD symptoms by a research team in Dallas. In other words, not only does fish oil DHA not trigger GERD symptoms; it may actually prevent them from occurring.
Of course, all this information can be dizzying and confusing, particularly for moms who have to buy formula for one reason or another and cannot find synthetically-free DHA. From my personal experience and that of other parents, here are my recommendations:
1-Write to formula companies.
As far as I know, Similac is the only company that still makes a regular formula without DHA; however, I could only find it at Amazon.com. Similac also produces a hypoallergenic formula called Neocate, which you can purchase with or without DHA.
Enfamil no longer makes regular DHA-free formulas, but they are open to my concerns. Enfamil Pregestimil is a hypoallergenic formula which to my knowledge does not yet contain DHA, but reportedly will in the near future. In addition, Enfamil has already begun producing a toddler formula that uses tuna oil instead of synthetic DHA. (Enfagrow Vanilla is the formula without synthetic DHA.)
Nestle has also begun using tuna oil in their Juicy Juice DHA Grape juice, so perhaps they will be open to creating a formula with tuna oil DHA.
Be positive: encourage them and thank them for this switch and ask if they will consider creating a formula with fish oil for GERD infants, as well. Chances are, all it takes is for one formula company to make a change and the others will follow in the name of market competition.
Finally, be aware that the hypoallergenic formulas are high in price. Check with your insurance company if you need to use them: many insurances will cover the cost of specialized formulas as long as your pediatrician writes a prescription. (You can look at the GERD Mama Store/Amazon link on the right of this page to see what these formulas look like.)
2-If you cannot find a DHA-free formula, choose one that contains a lower percentage of DHA. In general, Enfamil contains the highest: generic brands such as Up and Up (Target) and Parent's Choice (Walmart) contain lower percentages. Mothers of GERD babies have asserted their babies do better on the generic brands although no one seems to know why. I wonder if it has to do with the lower percentage of synthetic oils.
3-If you use a lower DHA-formula and your infant still experiences GERD, you will need to try other treatments. Natural treatments that worked best for my girls included Colic-Ease Gripe Water, positioning, and massage. And, of course, a lot of prayer.
4-Take advantage of natural DHA fish oil supplements and foods for your toddler. The most obvious source for fish oil should be fish, but if your child is a picky eater, I have listed a few names and products below to guide you as you shop. Many of these can be found in the regular grocery store. Others can be purchased in health stores or online.
5-When choosing a toddler multivitamin, read the label and choose one that does not contain synthetic DHA. Look for the presence of fish oil listed in the ingredients. (The most common fish oils are tuna, cod, sardine, and anchovy.) My children love Nature's Plus Animal Parade Grape multivitamins, which do not contain DHA. Animal Parade also sells separate fish-oil based DHA or Omega supplements, which I have listed below.
6-Don't think that just because something is organic, it contains natural fish oil DHA. Many organic formulas with DHA have gone to using synthetic DHA. This is a controversy within the guidelines of organic certification. Honest or not, it happens, so read labels!
7-Unfortunately, for many infants, eliminating DHA does not eliminate GERD, but it does reduce the severity of some of their symptoms. And as a GERD mama, I know: every little bit counts!
Tuna Oil DHA food products for infants/toddlers:
What is DHA?
DHA stands for docosahexaenoic acid, a fatty acid that occurs naturally in microalgae, which is typically eaten by fish. Once digested by the fish, it moves up the food chain, becoming more and more concentrated, until it is consumed by humans. In humans, DHA is known to have a variety of health benefits. The most commonly discussed benefits for adults are related to heart and cardiovascular health. For women, DHA can reduce symptoms of depression, specifically in the post-partum period. In infants and toddlers, DHA is known to be essential for brain and eye development.
So why is it added to infant formulas?
The current explanation for adding it to formulas maintains that in cultures where women eat a lot of fish during pregnancy and nursing, DHA is more available to the infants both in utero and through nursing. But in America, many women do not eat significant levels of fish--or are warned against eating fish for fear of mercury poisoning. American women also often rely on infant formulas instead of nursing for medical, professional, or personal reasons. Therefore, DHA has become the "superfood" additive, if you will, to infant dietary products.
A history of the addition of DHA to infant formulas, however, reveals a different aspect, too. As with healthy children and adults, healthy full-term infants are apparently able to create DHA from precursor fatty acids. Low-term and preterm infants, however, are not able to create as much as their body requires, so DHA was added to infant formulas. At first, it was tuna oil. Lately, it has been synthetic oil.
But is it safe?
The real question should not be "Is DHA safe?" rather, "Is synthetic DHA safe?"
Theoretically, the DHA manufactured in a laboratory directly from microalgae (also known as Crypthecodinium cohnii) and added to infant products should be completely harmless for all babies. After all, naturally occurring DHA begins in microalgae, too, so what is the difference between adding microalgal DHA to infant supplements instead of fish-oil DHA?
No one knows why, but there is a difference. Perhaps the difference lies in how the DHA is processed. No one knows exactly how a fish processes DHA; therefore, any laboratory processing of DHA must involve synthetic chemicals.
How does this difference impact infants?
First, according to an Australian study, the synthetic oils caused a significant increase in the liver and spleen weights of infants. While this weight increase apparently did not affect the organs' ability to function correctly at the time of research, the reason for this increase and the possible risks associated with it are still unclear.
Secondly, infants given synthetic DHA gained weight and grew faster than infants given natural (fish-oil) DHA. And in America, bigger is often better.
Or is it? For the vast majority of infants, no measurable difference between synthetic and natural DHA was established other than weight gain (over all and in regard to their livers and spleens). But for the GERD baby, the difference was monumental.
In a recent study published by the Cornucopia Institute, research drew a direct line between the presence of synthetic DHA in infant formulas and the presence of GERD in babies. GERD babies who were taken off formulas with synthetic DHA demonstrated a remarkable recovery from their symptoms, while GERD babies left on the synthetic formulas did not. In addition, other studies documenting the rise in the number of GERD babies diagnosed show an eerily similar pattern regarding the rise of GERD and the presence of synthetic DHA in infant formulas.
What is the solution?
One solution would be for parents of GERD babies using formula to feed their babies only the formulas that have added iron, not DHA. Unfortunately, within the past two years most of the major formula makers in America have discontinued making DHA-free formulas. (Ironically, some of these same companies still manufacture DHA-free formulas for other countries, Canada included.) And given the evidence that DHA is essential for infant brain and eye development, no formula company is interested in reversing their current trend of adding DHA.
The Case for Fish-Oil DHA
But there is hope. Other studies, and my own personal experience, indicate that pediatric GERD patients do well when taking natural DHA (fish oil) supplements. In other words, natural DHA does not seem to trigger GERD symptoms, and it provides GERD babies with all the important benefits of brain and eye development. Fish oil is already making an appearance as the DHA supplement in toddler formulas: it is perhaps not a far leap in logic until it appears in infant formulas, too.
And there is another benefit to fish oil DHA. Autoimmune research indicates that a high DHA fish-oil diet can actually slow or stop the production of cytokines--the chemicals recently tied to GERD symptoms by a research team in Dallas. In other words, not only does fish oil DHA not trigger GERD symptoms; it may actually prevent them from occurring.
Of course, all this information can be dizzying and confusing, particularly for moms who have to buy formula for one reason or another and cannot find synthetically-free DHA. From my personal experience and that of other parents, here are my recommendations:
1-Write to formula companies.
As far as I know, Similac is the only company that still makes a regular formula without DHA; however, I could only find it at Amazon.com. Similac also produces a hypoallergenic formula called Neocate, which you can purchase with or without DHA.
Enfamil no longer makes regular DHA-free formulas, but they are open to my concerns. Enfamil Pregestimil is a hypoallergenic formula which to my knowledge does not yet contain DHA, but reportedly will in the near future. In addition, Enfamil has already begun producing a toddler formula that uses tuna oil instead of synthetic DHA. (Enfagrow Vanilla is the formula without synthetic DHA.)
Nestle has also begun using tuna oil in their Juicy Juice DHA Grape juice, so perhaps they will be open to creating a formula with tuna oil DHA.
Be positive: encourage them and thank them for this switch and ask if they will consider creating a formula with fish oil for GERD infants, as well. Chances are, all it takes is for one formula company to make a change and the others will follow in the name of market competition.
Finally, be aware that the hypoallergenic formulas are high in price. Check with your insurance company if you need to use them: many insurances will cover the cost of specialized formulas as long as your pediatrician writes a prescription. (You can look at the GERD Mama Store/Amazon link on the right of this page to see what these formulas look like.)
2-If you cannot find a DHA-free formula, choose one that contains a lower percentage of DHA. In general, Enfamil contains the highest: generic brands such as Up and Up (Target) and Parent's Choice (Walmart) contain lower percentages. Mothers of GERD babies have asserted their babies do better on the generic brands although no one seems to know why. I wonder if it has to do with the lower percentage of synthetic oils.
3-If you use a lower DHA-formula and your infant still experiences GERD, you will need to try other treatments. Natural treatments that worked best for my girls included Colic-Ease Gripe Water, positioning, and massage. And, of course, a lot of prayer.
4-Take advantage of natural DHA fish oil supplements and foods for your toddler. The most obvious source for fish oil should be fish, but if your child is a picky eater, I have listed a few names and products below to guide you as you shop. Many of these can be found in the regular grocery store. Others can be purchased in health stores or online.
5-When choosing a toddler multivitamin, read the label and choose one that does not contain synthetic DHA. Look for the presence of fish oil listed in the ingredients. (The most common fish oils are tuna, cod, sardine, and anchovy.) My children love Nature's Plus Animal Parade Grape multivitamins, which do not contain DHA. Animal Parade also sells separate fish-oil based DHA or Omega supplements, which I have listed below.
6-Don't think that just because something is organic, it contains natural fish oil DHA. Many organic formulas with DHA have gone to using synthetic DHA. This is a controversy within the guidelines of organic certification. Honest or not, it happens, so read labels!
7-Unfortunately, for many infants, eliminating DHA does not eliminate GERD, but it does reduce the severity of some of their symptoms. And as a GERD mama, I know: every little bit counts!
Tuna Oil DHA food products for infants/toddlers:
Gerber 2nd foods with DHA
Gerber DHA cereal
Gerber DHA cereal
Juicy Juice Grape DHA
Enfagrow Vanilla toddler formula
Enfagrow Vanilla toddler formula
Natural Fish Oil DHA/Omega Oil Supplements:
Nordic Naturals Children's DHA
Animal Parade DHA
Animal Parade Omega 3/6/9
Bluebonnet Omega 3
Child Life Cod Liver Oil
To read more about the Australian study regarding synthetic DHA (and ARA) and infant weight gain
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_243/ai_109946504/
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_243/ai_109946504/
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