A study to be published in the June issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has linked omega 3 fatty acid consumption during pregnancy with improved problem solving skills in infants at the age of nine months. Researchers studied the effects of increased levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as a regular part of a pregnancy diet. DHA is a type of omega 3 fatty acid found in high concentrations in certain areas of the brain including the cerebral cortex, synapses, and retinal rod photoreceptors. Infants whose mothers had an average of 313 milligrams of DHA per day faired much better when presented with activities requiring problem solving. However, determining the recommended amount of DHA to be consumed by pregnant women will require further research. DHA is a direct source of omega 3 fatty acid commonly found in cold water fish. A-linolenic acid (LNA) which is converted into DHA in children and adults, is not easily converted at the fetal stage, and therefore does not provide the same types of benefits.

Source: HealthSentinel.com