Omega-3 fatty acids and early brain development

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are of particular importance in the diet of pregnant women and small children for two major reasons. Primarily, omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in building cells and regulating important life processes, and not least, because the human body cannot create (synthesize) them by itself and is completely dependent on food intake.

Za vrijeme prenatalnog razvoja, stanice mozga nastaju zapanjujućom brzinom od oko 250.000 stanica u minuti. Sredinom trudnoće (koncem dvadesetog tjedna razvoja fetusa) stvorene su milijarde neurona. Utjecaj prehrane djeteta na razvoj mozga je najveći u prenatalnom periodu. Kvalitetna prehrana i dobro zdravlje su u bliskoj povezanosti tijekom cijelog života, no ta je povezanost najizraženija u prvim godinama života. Poor quality nutrition causes weaker cognitive development, lowers attention and concentration, and reduces success in later life. At birth, the brain reaches 70% of the size and 25% of the weight of the adult brain. In the period that follows, new brain cells (neurons) are created that travel to their final destinations. Stimulated by external stimuli, brain cells create mutual connections (synapses), which enables them to communicate with each other.

Bearing in mind such turbulent and complex processes of brain development, it is extremely important to provide the child with everything he needs for optimal growth and development. In human life, the fastest brain growth occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy.

U navedenom periodu treba izbjegavati konzumiranje dugoživuće ribe (predatora) jer se u njima nalazi povećana koncentracija žive koja se prirodno nalazi u okolišu. Manja plava riba (sardele) su izvrstan izvor omega 3 masnih kiselina. One se u organizmu razgrađuju u masne kiseline dokozaheksaesku (DHA) i eikozapanteansku kiselinu (EPA). DHA  čini preko 50% gradive tvari mozga i oko 65% očne pozadine. Osim što predstavljaju gradivi dio mozga, navedeni razgradni produkti omega 3 masnih kiselina, pristupajući na DNK, sudjeluju u složenim procesima regulacije aktiviranja gena. Dakle, njihova je važnost iznimna u složenim procesima razvoja mozga, te se osim konzumiranja hrane koja je bogata ovim mastima (dobri su izvori maslinovo ulje, bademi, laneno i konopljino ulje) preporučuje dodatno uzimanje omega- 3 u obliku kapsula ili ulja tijekom zadnjeg tromjesečja trudnoće (tada je najbrži rast mozga) i dojenja. Najnovija istraživanja su pokazala da uzimanje omega- 3 masnih kiselina tijekom trudnoće značajno umanjuje učestalost prijevremenog poroda. Kada je riječ o zdravlju mozga i stvaranju optimalnih uvjeta za njegov rast i razvoj, prijevremno rođenje donosi brojne komplikacije koje mogu imati nepovoljni utjecaj. U ljudskom mlijeku ima oko 30 puta više DHA nego u mlijeku drugih sisavaca. Konzumiranjem omega- 3 masnih kiselina majka može povećati koncentraciju DHA u svojem mlijeku i popuniti vlastite rezerve koje su značajno smanjene nakon poroda. Važnosti ovih masti tolika je da se svi nadomjesni mliječni pripravci (formule) dodatno njima obogaćuju.

Omega-3 and the immune system

The immune system is closely related to the brain, therefore disorders in one of these two systems directly affect the functioning of the other. Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in the complex processes of mutual regulation. They can reduce the production of unwanted pro-inflammatory hormones (reduce the inflammatory reaction), strengthen the immune system and help with allergies, rheumatism, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Some children with autism have associated problems with the immune system, and it is extremely important to prevent the onset of inflammation (for example, they often have inflammatory bowel disease) so that inflammatory products do not spread through the blood to the brain and cause additional damage.

There are many reports in the literature about the benefits of the therapeutic use of omega-3 fatty acids in children with learning difficulties, hyperactivity, autistic spectrum and delayed speech development, but there is still no confirmation in works that meet the strictest criteria of scientific research and conclusions.

Author: Prof. Ph.D. Milivoj Jovančević, primarius