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Vitamin Spotlight: DHA

November 20, 2015

Prenatal Vitamins with DHA

Docosahexaenoic acid, commonly referred to as DHA, is a type of omega-3 fatty acid. It is a primary structural component of the human brain, skin and retina, and is essential for healthy functioning throughout life — from pregnancy to infancy and into adulthood. In recent years, doctors and scientists have learned more about the impact of DHA and the benefits that it can provide to an expecting mother and her baby.

How Much DHA Do You Need?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that women get no more than 3 grams of DHA daily from foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, and no more than 2 grams of DHA daily from dietary supplements.1

What are the Benefits of DHA?

In adults, DHA helps with brain function. In 2004 the FDA, along with other nutritional advocacy organizations, announced that there is scientific evidence that DHA, along with other omega-3 fatty acids, may be beneficial in the reduction of coronary heart disease (CHD).1 DHA helps reduce triglycerides in the bloodstream, and high triglycerides are a contributing factor to arterial blockages and CHD.2

DHA is essential for growth and functional development of an infant’s brain, too.2 Plus, the visual acuity of a healthy, full-term, formula-fed infant is increased when his or her formula includes DHA.2

Which Foods Contain DHA?

DHA is found naturally in fish, eggs and meats. Non-marine food sources that contain DHA include nuts, seeds, whole grains and dark leafy vegetables. Oily fish, like mackerel, herring, salmon and trout, typically contain 10-100 times more DHA than non-marine food sources.3

However, women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant need to be extremely careful when consuming marine food sources that contain DHA. Many of these fish contain high levels of mercury, and high levels of mercury can be toxic for both pregnant women and developing babies.

Prenatal Vitamins with DHA

One way pregnant women can help meet their daily DHA intake goals and cover nutritional gaps, without risking high mercury consumption, is to take a daily prenatal vitamin with DHA. The Prenate® Vitamin Family offers nutritional support for mothers and their babies for every step of pregnancy and after delivery. Ask your doctor if the Prenate® Vitamin Family is right for you. For your convenience we’ve provided links to the prenatal vitamins with DHA that the Prenate® Vitamin Family offers:
Prenate® Pixie
Prenate Mini®
Prenate® Enhance
Prenate® Restore
Prenate DHA®

 

Connect with Prenate®

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

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