Q. "What is DHA”?
A. DHA is a long-chain fatty acid and is found abundantly in the brain (comprising 97% of the omega 3 fats therein), the eyes (comprising 93% of the omega 3 fats in teh retina), and the nervous system (and is a key component of heart tissue). It plays an important role in the structural integrity of these parts of the body and is required for their proper functioning. It is also found in breast milk, and is now included in many baby formulas and sold in supplements for pregnant women for this reason. DHA is important during pregnancy, especially during the last three months, when your baby's brain grows at a rapid pace and lactation (the DHA content of a baby's brain triples during the first three months of life). It is critical for brain, eye and central nervous system development of your baby.

Q.What is the role of DHA in the body?
A.DHA is required for proper brain function and development as well as being necessary for visual acuity, and it is the primary fatty acid in the phospholipids in the brain and retina. Low levels of DHA in the blood have also been shown to be related to low serotonin levels in the brain, which can affect mood. DHA is especially important to developing children as the brain and other parts of the body grow and develop. Higher level of DHA have also been shown to reduce triglycerides as well as increasing the particle size of a person's Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol, which has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. DHA is therefore a key component in the central nervous system as well as maintaining proper cardiovascular health.

Q.Why DHA is hard to get in your diet?
A.There are two primary reasons. First, during pregnancy the daily requirements of DHA increase from 220 mg to somewhere between 300 and 1,000 mg (depending on which expert you consult). Second, DHA isn't easy to get in your diet especially when you are pregnant. Significant amounts of DHA are found in animal organ meats and fatty fish. Not the typical menu for most pregnant women. Liver does not hold mass appeal and we're told to limit our intake of fish due to concerns over toxins. No wonder a recent study of 112 pregnant or lactating women found that fewer than 2 percent met the FDA's current guidelines for adequate daily DHA consumption.

Q.What should pregnant women do to safely increase the DHA in their diets?
A.Include "Safer" fish choices such as deep sea cold water fatty fish, such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines in your diet. Taking DHA supplements produced from marine source is therefore a safe way for pregnant women to boost their fatty acid stores.