GORDONSVILLE, VA—Findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) have demonstrated high doses of DHA-dominant omega-3 fatty acids administered to premature infants via their mother’s breast milk can reduce the risk of developmental disorders.
In a six-year study involving 657 premature infants, researchers found the lipid DHA is not developed sufficiently in premature infants, leading to possible impaired mental development. To offset this omega-3 deficiency, 1000mg DHA supplements were given to lactating mothers with pre-term infants; some infants were fed supplemental infant formula with matching DHA levels.
Approximately 50 percent fewer infants on high-DHA diets experienced delayed mental development compared to infants on low-DHA diets. Infants weighing one-third the weight of a full-term baby who were fed high-DHA diets scored better on mental development tests, with a 40 percent reduction in the incidence of mild mental delay.
“My studies have shown that pregnant and lactating women are not eating fish, which is why a pharmaceutical-grade omega-3 supplement is so important to their daily diets,” said Dr. Barbara Levine, Weill Cornell Medical College. “Since women are concerned about contaminants in fish and have difficulty stomaching fish during pregnancy, many doctors are now prescribing Animi-3, a DHA-dominant omega-3 formulation, to make sure they get what they need for baby.”
“This new research published in JAMA supports the reasoning behind our prescription supplement with 350mg of DHA,” said President Jack Schramm, PBM Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the makers of Animi-3. “Studies continue to highlight the role nutritional deficiencies of the Animi-3 nutrients play in the overall health of adults and their children.”
Women are being prescribed Animi-3 by their doctors to address DHA and other nutritional deficiencies in their diets. Each capsule of Animi-3 contains 500 mg of omega-3, (350 mg of DHA), 200 mg of phytosterols, 1 mg of folic acid, 12.5 mg of B6, and 12 mcg of B12.
More information on Animi-3 ingredients is found on www.animi-3.com and on www.dhaandbvitamins.org, a resource developed by specialists at Weill Cornell Medical College and other medical centers.
Animi-3 is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.
Source: JAMA. 2009;301(2):175-182
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