So You Want Healthier Kids?   I am asked how can I feed my children so as to keep them healthy?  Dr. Meschino provides a great article on the subject.  I like to refer patient's to it.

Essential Fats for Child Brain Development

DHA: Important During Pregnancy and Lactation  By James P. Meschino, DC, MS

One of the most striking discoveries in recent years is the finding that the omega-3 fatty acid known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is required for optimal brain development during fetal and early infant life.

In fact, failure for women to establish adequate DHA nutritional status has been strongly implicated in impaired brain development of their offspring, manifesting as lower IQ and an increased propensity for learning disabilities. The problem stems from the fact that the fetus is dependent upon the mother's body for much of its DHA requirement. After birth, infants continue to require DHA from breast milk during the first three months of life in order for optimal brain development to continue.

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in many fish, as well as in supplements that contain fish oil. The body can also synthesize DHA from ALA and EPA. Studies show that higher concentrations of DHA provided to the fetus and infant are associated with higher IQ scores throughout life (about six points higher on average). In addition, studies show that the first-born child generally has a higher IQ than the children that follow. This has been attributed to the fact that the first-born child gets the benefit of acquiring the DHA the woman has accumulated in her tissues over her lifetime, followed by additional DHA that is available from her breast milk.

Unless the woman adheres to a very aggressive omega-3 fat replenishment program from food and supplements, her subsequent children are much less likely to be afforded access to the same concentration of available DHA as that supplied to the first-born child. The trend is that the first-born child has a higher IQ and is less likely to manifest learning disabilities than their younger siblings.

This great article goes on to discuss: The Brain Is Largely Made of Fats;  Recent Studies Provide Support for the DHA Story; and What Should Women of Childbearing Years Do?   You would be well served to read Dr. Meschino's article at: http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=53537