Do children need DHA supplements?

Expectant mothers need to supplement calcium every day during pregnancy, because calcium supplementation can help the baby's bones and the development of various body functions. It also helps all aspects of the body, can improve memory function, and promote fetal brain development. When the baby is born, parents also need to supplement calcium for their children. Appropriate intake of DHA for children can promote the coordination of their hands, feet and eyes. Generally, children of different ages need different doses of supplementation.

fetus

Benefits of DHA: Taking an appropriate amount of DHA during pregnancy helps maintain the integrity of the fetal brain cell membranes, and promotes fetal brain development and improves memory.

How much supplement is appropriate? Expectant mothers need to get no less than 400 mg of DHA per day. Nuts such as walnut kernels, which are rich in natural linoleic acid and linolenic acid, can synthesize DHA after being processed by the liver. The DHA content in the fat of offshore fish and seashells is 2.5-100 times that of the fat of terrestrial animals and plants. In addition, the fetus is prone to vitamin deficiency, so expectant mothers need to eat more vegetables and fruits while supplementing DHA.

0~6 months

Benefits of DHA: If a baby consumes an appropriate amount of DHA, it can help him improve his hand-eye coordination, and this effect is most obvious at the age of 2.

How much supplement is appropriate? The DHA that a breastfed baby needs every day comes entirely from the mother, so a breastfeeding mother needs to take in at least 400 mg of DHA every day. If you are not breastfeeding, choose formula milk containing DHA for your baby, which should contain at least 19 mg of DHA per 150 ml of formula milk.

6 months to 2 years old

Benefits of DHA: 6 months to 2 years old is the age group in which babies grow and develop fastest. DHA can produce a large amount of vital hormones that promote brain development to meet the baby's development needs.

How much supplement is appropriate? 100 mg of DHA per day, choose some foods containing DHA for your baby, such as cheese, baby rice cereal. After the child is one year old, he can also eat milk, eggs, etc. In addition, marine fish, fish oil, turtle, etc. also contain DHA. In addition, if the doctor recommends that your child take DHA supplements, then about 150 ml per week is safe.

2~5 years old

Benefits of DHA: If children have low levels of DHA, they may increase the risk of autism, vision problems and psychological problems.

How much supplement is appropriate? At this time, the amount of DHA required by children is about 200 mg per day. In addition, some foods sold in the market also contain DHA ingredients, such as cereals, cheese, etc., so you should check the food labels carefully. In addition, if the doctor recommends that your child take DHA supplements, then 250 to 300 ml per week is safe.