The health benefits of DHA (docosahexanoic acid, or omega-3 fatty acid) have been promoted with greater frequency in the past couple of years than they used to be. While the main source of DHA is found in fish like salmon and mackerel, many people dislike the taste of those foods, and prefer to take supplement pills instead. However, children are notoriously picky eaters, and might find even pills more difficult to take. A possible solution is to give them fortified juice.
Fortified juice is meant to complement a child’s diet by providing DHA, which is an essential fatty acid that the body doesn’t synthesize on its own — it must be ingested from external sources. There are a number of fortified juice products available, such as Nestle’s Juicy Juice Brain Development, but adding DHA to existing foods is becoming a more commonplace occurrence.
There is an ongoing debate, however, over whether or not early intake of increased levels of DHA directly translate into health benefits. The additional concern, of course, is if there is a concomitant benefit to ingesting DHA from fish that is lacking when gained from supplement foods like fortified juice and other fortified products. The widespread practice is still so new that we haven’t seen long-term study numbers come in yet. If you are inclined to try these new fortified products, be sure to first speak with your physician and get professional advice before investing in the practice.
