There’s a reason the large dairy and food company Parmalat Canada has a new line of products aimed at children and enriched with DHA.

Linked to body development that supports the brain, eyes and nerves, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is one of the three omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 also contains ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), known for boosting heart health, and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), recognized for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and improving immunity.

Winnipeg-based dietitian Gina Sunderland, who works with Parmalat, says many parents may have heard about omega-3 fatty acids but may be unaware of the need for children.

The body doesn’t make omega-3, so it it must be obtained from our diet, Sunderland explains. The body takes ALA and converts some of it into DHA and EPA.

While omega-3 is abundant in cold-water or oily fish, that can pose a challenge for parents to get their children to eat fish, she says.

Parmalat’s new Smart Growth items are made from milk from cows fed an enriched diet containing DHA. Two one-cup (250-mL) servings of Smart Growth milk, chocolate milk and two Black Diamond Smart Growth cheese strings can help meet recommendations of 70 mg for children one to three years old and 90 mg for children ages four to eight years.

In turn, too much DHA can act as a mild blood thinner.

On average children consume less than a third of the DHA they need, Sunderland says.

Can children become smarter than the average fifth grader?

“Studies are showing higher IQ scores,” says Sunderland. She adds DHA helps with concentration and mood. Essentially, she explains, it can help the brain send messages between the cells.

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