Can THESE Help Your Kids GROW?

By Kevin DiDonato MS, CSCS, CES


Numerous studies show that the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA are beneficial for everyone – no matter what age you are.

In fact, many studies show that al age groups may benefit from getting more DHA and EPA into their everyday meal plans.

And that includes infants!  One important area of concern not just when the baby is developing inside the mother, but after the child is born and in the first few years of life!

But there is a problem: Most women know – and understand  - that breast milk is the best source of nutrition for their growing child.

However, due to a number of different issues, they may not be able to breastfeed for long periods of time.

So, they turn to formula, in order to maintain healthy nutrition for their child in the first year or two.

And food manufacturers know this as well, which is one reason why they have incorporated the omega-3 fatty acids into baby formula.

Even with the high importance placed on omega-3 fatty acids in formula, little research has been done on the effectiveness of this supplementation.

Until now, that is!

Omega-3 Fat Rich Formula and Development

The research behind long-term supplementation of the omega-3 fatty acids in infant formula may be lacking.

However a new study shows some pretty impressive results!

Researchers followed a group of infants who were fed either a omega-3 fatty acid rich formula (54) or a regular formula without the omega-3 fats (15) to see the effects on growth and stature over the course of six years.

They found that those in the omega-3 supplemented group showed higher length,  stature, and weight for age percentile then the regular formula group.

Also noted, even though the omega-3 fat group showed greater increases in weight, there were little changes in their BMI over the course of six years.

Simply put, the children in the omega-3 fat group were more proportional according to their weight and height charts, and may not have been overweight, compared to the other group.

Take Home Message

The omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, are extremely beneficial fats that are necessary for improving health.

And studies show that it’s just as important as a baby as it is for older adults.

That’s why manufacturers have supplemented baby formula with the fats in order to increase a baby’s intake of DHA and EPA.

Up until recently, however, not a lot of research has been done to determine how beneficial these fats may be.

However, a new study shows that infants given formula with the omega-3 fatty acids may improve growth and stature of children, without increasing body mass index (BMI).

This is just another benefit to add to a long list of benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.