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NEW YORK, NY. Dr. Barbara Levine, Professor of Nutrition in Medicine at Cornell
University, sounds the alarm concerning a totally inadequate intake of DHA
(docosahexaenoic acid) by most Americans. DHA is the building block of human
brain tissue and is particularly abundant in the grey matter of the brain and
the retina. Low levels of DHA have recently been associated with depression,
memory loss, dementia, and visual problems. DHA is particularly important for
fetuses and infants; the DHA content of the infant's brain triples during the
first three months of life. Optimal levels of DHA are therefore crucial for
pregnant and lactating mothers. Unfortunately, the average DHA content of
breast milk in the United States is the lowest in the world, most likely because
Americans eat comparatively little fish. Making matters worse is the fact that
the United States is the only country in the world where infant formulas are not
fortified with DHA. This despite a 1995 recommendation by the World Health
Organization that all baby formulas should provide 40 mg of DHA per kilogram of
infant body weight. Dr. Levine believes that postpartum depression, attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and low IQs are all linked to the
dismally low DHA intake common in the United States. Dr. Levine also points out
that low DHA levels have been linked to low brain serotonin levels which again
are connected to an increased tendency to depression, suicide, and violence.
DHA is abundant in marine phytoplankton and cold-water fish and nutritionists
now recommend that people consume two to three servings of fish every week to
maintain DHA levels. If this is not possible, Dr. Levine suggests supplementing
with 100 mg/day of DHA.
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