DHA and ARA are considered essential nutrients for infant milk formula to support normal brain and visual development
Innis, S. M. (2007). Dietary (n-3) fatty acids and brain development. In Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/137.4.855
Koletzko, B., Bergmann, K., Thomas Brenna, J., Calder, P. C., Campoy, C., Clandinin, M. T., Colombo, J., Daly, M., Decsi, T., Demmelmair, H., Domellöf, M., Fidlermis, N., Gonzalez-Casanova, I., Van Goudoever, J. B., Hadjipanayis, A., Hernell, O., Lapillonne, A., Mader, S., Martin, C. R., … Carlson, S. E. (2020). Should formula for infants provide arachidonic acid along with DHA? A position paper of the European Academy of Paediatrics and the Child Health Foundation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz252
and may play a beneficial role in immune development and function
Radzikowska, U., Rinaldi, A. O., Sözener, Z. Ç., Karaguzel, D., Wojcik, M., Cypryk, K., Akdis, M., Akdis, C. A., & Sokolowska, M. (2019). The influence of dietary fatty acids on immune responses. In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11122990
Richard, C., Lewis, E. D., & Field, C. J. (2016). Evidence for the essentiality of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid in the postnatal maternal and infant diet for the development of the infant’s immune system early in life. In Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2015-0660
. Infants fed with infant formula supplemented with DHA and ARA showed lower incidence of common respiratory symptoms (e.g. croup, nasal congestion, cough) and diarrhoea requiring medical attention compared to infants who received formula without DHA and ARA
Birch, E. E., Khoury, J. C., Berseth, C. L., Castañeda, Y. S., Couch, J. M., Bean, J., Tamer, R., Harris, C. L., Mitmesser, S. H., & Scalabrin, D. M. (2010). The Impact of Early Nutrition on Incidence of Allergic Manifestations and Common Respiratory Illnesses in Children. Journal of Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.01.002
Lapillonne, A., Pastor, N., Zhuang, W., & Scalabrin, D. M. F. (2014). Infants fed formula with added long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have reduced incidence of respiratory illnesses and diarrhea during the first year of life. BMC Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-14-168
. Lower incidence of clinical symptoms resulted in fewer doctors’ visits during the first three years of life
Birch, E. E., Khoury, J. C., Berseth, C. L., Castañeda, Y. S., Couch, J. M., Bean, J., Tamer, R., Harris, C. L., Mitmesser, S. H., & Scalabrin, D. M. (2010). The Impact of Early Nutrition on Incidence of Allergic Manifestations and Common Respiratory Illnesses in Children. Journal of Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.01.002
Lapillonne, A., Pastor, N., Zhuang, W., & Scalabrin, D. M. F. (2014). Infants fed formula with added long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have reduced incidence of respiratory illnesses and diarrhea during the first year of life. BMC Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-14-168
. Positive changes were observed in the profile of immune cells and cytokines after supplementation with DHA and ARA in infant formula, bringing it closer to the profile of immune cells and cytokines of breastfed infants
Field, C. J., Van Aerde, J. E., Robinson, L. E., & Clandinin, M. T. (2008). Effect of providing a formula supplemented with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on immunity in full-term neonates. British Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114507791845 .
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