Why is DHASCO/ARASCO added to infant formula?Natural DHA/ARA are found in human breast milk.The human body makes DHA/ARA from precursor fatty acids such as LA and ALA found in diet.Through elongation and desaturation enzymes DHA/ARA are formed from precursor fatty acids.Although small amounts are created they are quickly incorporated and tightly reserved.Since DHA/ARA can not be made directly they are considered to be essential fatty acids.Supplementation will directly increase cellular levels and have an impact on virtually every cell in the body.The real question is how much is essential before it becomes excessive.I have yet to find a published study that addresses this important issue.DHA/ARA are very powerful fatty acids.Their role in lipid bilayers and cellular signaling is not well understood and being better defined everyday.If evolution has provided us with the ability to efficiently create and utilize DHA/ARA,albeit in small and highly regulated amounts,what would be the consequence of subsantially increasing this amount?It wouldn't be wise to increase the amount of insulin or estrogen through a one size fits all supplement.How about increasing the amounts of insulin and estrogen from a synthetic and structurally different source?
We have never before directly increased DHA/ARA cellular levels in infants.We are now supplementing with a synthetic and structurally different source.The manufacturers can not find a consistant benefit other than increased profits.They have determined that it affects gender differently for an undetermined reason.If these very powerful fatty acids are not improving brain and eye development,what are they actually doing?The only truthful answer is they do not know.In fact,if DHASCO/ARASCO has the ability to influence brain and eye development ,shouldn't we completely understand how and what risks may be involved?http://ncp.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/22/1/74
http://www.jlr.org/cgi/reprint/M500033-JLR200v1.pdf
