Do Omega-3 Fats Have An Impact On Infant Visual Development?
There are, indeed, a wide range of health benefits associated with these fats, including support for early visual development. Omega-3 fats are a type of polyunsaturated fat. There are three main Omega-3 fatty acids: ALA, EPA & DHA. Results from various studies indicate that intake of the higher levels of DHA are associated with greater visual ability in breastfed infants and formula-fed infants. Researchers from the Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas, Texas, concluded that the effect of duration of a dietary supply of DHA and ARA resulted in a difference in visual acuity at 52 weeks of age equivalent to 1.5 line on a standard eye chart between infants who never received DHA and in their diet and infants who received DHA and ARA throughout the first year of life. The study also suggested that infants benefited from continuous supply of DHA and ARA up to one year of age, suggesting the brain may not have the adequate reserves to support the continuous maturation of the visual co
