Sean Moloughney04.27.09
Supplementation with DHA-fortified juice effectively increased plasma phospholipid DHA content in children, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
The Coca-Cola-funded study randomly assigned 31, 4- to 12-year-olds to drink orange juice fortified with microencapsulated algal DHA at either 50 mg or 100 mg DHA per day for six weeks.
Because there are no data for plasma phospholipid DHA content in healthy children, data were compared to that of breastfed infants. At baseline, plasma phospholipid DHA content was lower in both dose groups than was observed in breastfed infants. It increased significantly in both dose groups, but more so in the higher dose group, reaching levels similar to or greater than content of breastfed infants.
While children in both groups showed increased DHA blood levels, researchers did not pinpoint specific health benefits. However, DHA is believed to play an important role in early brain and eye development.
Many experts acknowledge that most children do not meet the recommended guidelines for fish intake that would provide DHA. Researchers concluded that DHA-fortified juice is a realistic means of increasing the amount of DHA in a child’s diet.
The Coca-Cola-funded study randomly assigned 31, 4- to 12-year-olds to drink orange juice fortified with microencapsulated algal DHA at either 50 mg or 100 mg DHA per day for six weeks.
Because there are no data for plasma phospholipid DHA content in healthy children, data were compared to that of breastfed infants. At baseline, plasma phospholipid DHA content was lower in both dose groups than was observed in breastfed infants. It increased significantly in both dose groups, but more so in the higher dose group, reaching levels similar to or greater than content of breastfed infants.
While children in both groups showed increased DHA blood levels, researchers did not pinpoint specific health benefits. However, DHA is believed to play an important role in early brain and eye development.
Many experts acknowledge that most children do not meet the recommended guidelines for fish intake that would provide DHA. Researchers concluded that DHA-fortified juice is a realistic means of increasing the amount of DHA in a child’s diet.