Difference between revisions of "DHA"

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==The benefits of DHA are==
 
==The benefits of DHA are==
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Docosahexaenoic acid, better known as DHA, is one of the main components of fish oil that is touted for its health benefits. DHA, along with Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, are said to help in the prevention of heart disease, cancer, depression and arthritis, and are also very important for proper brain function. Due to the fact that many people don't get enough DHA from their diet, fish oil supplementation has become common. DHA is thought to prevent certain health problems associated with pregnancy, such as preeclampsia. In addition, DHA is often touted as a natural means of preventing miscarriage and early delivery. Some women also take DHA during pregnancy to reduce their risk of postpartum depression.
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Docosahexaenoic acid, better known as DHA, is one of the main components of fish oil that is touted for its health benefits. DHA, along with Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, are said to help in the prevention of heart disease, cancer, depression and arthritis, and are also very important for proper brain function. Due to the fact that many people don't get enough DHA from their diet, fish oil supplementation has become common.  
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* Heart Disease : Taking DHA in combination with EPA may reduce several risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
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Since DHA is essential for neurological and visual development, women commonly take DHA during pregnancy to ensure that the developing child gets a sufficient amount of DHA.
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* Brain Health : DHA may help protect against age-related cognitive decline, suggests a 2010 research review from Current Alzheimer's Research.
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* DHA is thought to prevent certain health problems associated with pregnancy, such as preeclampsia. In addition, DHA is often touted as a natural means of preventing miscarriage and early delivery. Some women also take DHA during pregnancy to reduce their risk of postpartum depression. Since DHA is essential for neurological and visual development, women commonly take DHA during pregnancy to ensure that the developing child gets a sufficient amount of DHA.
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Benefits of DHA During Pregnancy
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* Depression : DHA may help protect against depression.
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* According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), fish oil is possibly effective in treatment of several other conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual pain, psoriasis, and asthma.  
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Here's a look at key findings from studies on the use of DHA during pregnancy:
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*DHA and the Developing Child : So far, studies on maternal use of DHA and its benefits for the developing child have yielded mixed results. For instance, in a 2011 study published in Pediatrics, researchers found that consuming DHA during pregnancy helped protect babies from illness in early infancy. The study involved about 1,100 pregnant women and 900 infants. Results revealed that the children of women who took 400 mg of DHA each day for most of their pregnancy were less likely suffer cold symptoms during the first few months of life (compared to children born to mothers given a placebo during pregnancy).However, in another study the same year (this time in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition), researchers found that maternal use of DHA supplements failed to affect early visual development in infants. The study involved 182 women, each of whom received either 800 mg of DHA or a placebo supplement from midpregnancy to delivery. In tests performed when the participants' babies were four months old, those whose mothers took the DHA supplement did not appear to have enhanced eyesight.
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*DHA and Postpartum Depression : DHA may not help prevent postpartum depression, according to a 2010 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. For the study, 2,399 women took either 800 mg of DHA or a placebo every day from 21 weeks (or less) of pregnancy until childbirth. Looking at data gathered in the six months after childbirth, researchers found that symptoms of postpartum depression did not differ between the two study groups.Furthermore, average cognitive scores of children from women in the DHA group did not differ from average scores of children of women in the placebo group. Other developmental outcomes (such as motor development and social-emotional behavior) also failed to differ between the two groups.
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*DHA and Preeclampsia : Research on the use of DHA in prevention of preeclampsia is somewhat limited. However, in a 2011 study of 109 pregnant women (published in Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids), researchers found that DHA levels were lower in those with preeclampsia (compared to those with normal blood pressure). According to the study's authors, this finding suggests that DHA may help protect against preeclampsia.
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Revision as of 13:40, 5 March 2013

See also :

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid often recommended to women during pregnancy. Thought to protect against a number of pregnancy-related complications, DHA is also said to promote the health of the developing child. Found in cold-water oily fish and in seaweed, DHA is also widely available in supplement form. In addition, the body naturally produces small amounts of DHA.

Special Precautions of DHA

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), consuming DHA in the form of fish oil is likely safe during pregnancy. The NIH advise limiting your fish oil intake to three grams per day during pregnancy.It's important to note that taking DHA in the form of fish oil is known to cause a number of side effects, including bad breath, heartburn, and nausea.Even with all of its health benefits, there are some known side effects to taking fish oil--including a possible elevation in blood sugar levels, upset stomach and increased risk of bleeding.

  • Possible Elevated Blood Sugar Levels : A possible increase in blood sugar levels is particularly important for those with Type 2 diabetes, as slight increases in fasting blood glucose levels have been noted for this group, according to the National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus site. Still, it notes that there are no significant effects of fish oil over the long term in patients suffering from diabetes, so minimal caution can be taken.
  • Possible Stomach Upset : Symptoms may include diarrhea, increased burping, acid reflux, heartburn or indigestion, according to MedlinePlus. A fishy aftertaste may be another unpleasant side effect. Ways to minimize these side effects include taking DHA with meals, and taking lower doses.
  • Possible Increased Risk of Bleeding : The Mayo Clinic says there is little evidence of bleeding risk at lower doses, but a large intake of fish oil increases the risk of a bleeding stroke. High intake has also been shown to increase the possibility of nosebleeds and blood in the urine.

The benefits of DHA are

Docosahexaenoic acid, better known as DHA, is one of the main components of fish oil that is touted for its health benefits. DHA, along with Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, are said to help in the prevention of heart disease, cancer, depression and arthritis, and are also very important for proper brain function. Due to the fact that many people don't get enough DHA from their diet, fish oil supplementation has become common.

  • Heart Disease : Taking DHA in combination with EPA may reduce several risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
  • Brain Health : DHA may help protect against age-related cognitive decline, suggests a 2010 research review from Current Alzheimer's Research.
  • DHA is thought to prevent certain health problems associated with pregnancy, such as preeclampsia. In addition, DHA is often touted as a natural means of preventing miscarriage and early delivery. Some women also take DHA during pregnancy to reduce their risk of postpartum depression. Since DHA is essential for neurological and visual development, women commonly take DHA during pregnancy to ensure that the developing child gets a sufficient amount of DHA.
  • Depression : DHA may help protect against depression.
  • According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), fish oil is possibly effective in treatment of several other conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual pain, psoriasis, and asthma.
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