Docosahexaenoic Acid or DHA is one of the omega-3 fatty acid compounds that are important for the development of children’s organs since the womb, especially the brain and eyes. DHA is contained naturally in breast milk and various types of fish, such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, and sardines.
As technology develops, DHA is formulated into milk for pregnancy, babies, or children. In addition, DHA also combines with other vitamins and minerals in supplements intended for pregnant women. In addition to pregnant women, DHA supplements are believed to lower triglyceride levels and increase levels of good cholesterol (HDL) in people with high cholesterol, reduce the risk of macular degeneration, and reduce the risk of death from coronary heart disease.
Nutritional Adequacy Rate
There are no specific recommendations for taking DHA per day. There are recommendations for children up to age 1 year, which is 0.5 g per day, but the recommendation is for omega-3s as a whole. The recommended maximum limit is 3 g of combination between EPA and DHA per day, with 2 g of it obtained from food.
Docosahexaenoic Acid Function
Docosahexaenoic acid (omega-3 acid ethyl esters) or known as DHA is a type of fat found in fish oil.
DHA supplements belong to a class of drugs called lipid-regulating agents, which reduce the production of fats in the blood (triglycerides) and bad cholesterol. Therefore, this supplement is usually often recommended for people who have high triglyceride levels.
Triglyceride levels that are too high can cause diseases such as coronary heart disease, liver disease, and stroke. In addition to helping reduce triglyceride levels, this supplement can also increase good cholesterol (HDL).
Usually, this supplement is used if your blood fat levels are still not fully controllable only with non-drug treatments (e.g., dietary changes, exercise, alco**hol reduction, weight loss, controlling blood sugar, and normalizing thyroid hormone levels).
This supplement belongs to the class of over-the-counter drugs, which means you can buy it in pharmacies freely either without or with a prescription from a doctor.
Docosahexaenoic Acid Benefits
Docosahexaenoic acid is commonly used for heart disease and high cholesterol. Other examples of benefits such as:
- Coronary artery disease
- Fat in the blood (high triglycerides)
- Improve memory and thinking skills
- To help the development of infants and children
- For certain eye disorders.
Docosahexaenoic Acid Dosage
Docosahexaenoic acid can be divided into 2 main parts, namely for older persons and children.
Older persons Docosahexaenoic acid dosage
Docosahexaenoic acid Dose Oral Nutrition Supplement
- Usual dosage range: 125-250 mg 1-2 times a day.
- Dosage instructions may vary according to the product used.
High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (oral hyperlipidemia)
- 0.8 to 4 grams of DHA daily for 6-8 weeks has been used.
Docosahexaenoic Acid Dosage for Child
Prone to allergies and oral allergic reactions (atopic diseases)
- 400 mg of DHA daily has been consumed from 18-22 weeks gestation and continues until delivery.
Docosahexaenoic Acid Side Effects
The side effects that each drug can cause react differently and depend on each individual. And, although DHA is one of the supplements, it is still important to know the side effects that can arise from the use of DHA, among others:
- It can cause fever
- There is discomfort in the abdominal area, flatulence to abdominal pain
- Nausea to vomiting
- It can cause bleeding, ranging from the appearance of bruises on the skin to vomit blood.
You should immediately stop using DHA if you experience one or more side effects as above. Immediately consult and do a re-examination with the doctor who gives you the supplement or formula so that other alternatives can be thought of as a solution to your health problems.
