Some formulas are advertised as having DHA and ARA. What are they and should my babys formula have them?
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid) are new ingredients that weren’t used in any infant formulas sold in the United States until 2002 (although they’ve been available in Europe since 1996). Now they can be found in some, but not all, milk- and soy-based formulas. DHA and ARA are polyunsaturated fatty acids (consider the “good” kinds of fat) that may be linked to brain and nerve development and can be found naturally in fish oils and eggs. The fatty acids are also found in breast milk. By putting DHA and ARA in infant formulas, the manufacturers are attempting to make their formulas as close to breast milk as possible. But is it beneficial to buy an infant formula with these ingredients? The jury still seems to be out on that. Some studies have indicated that formulas supplemented with DHA and ARA contribute to weight gain and provide benefits to premature infants. Although it isn’t clear whether these formulas are beneficial over the long term, they do show some short
