Why babies need fish for their brains
Docosahexaenoic acid and human brain evolution: missing the forest for the trees--comments by Cunnane.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Babies need to get DHA directly from food like breast milk or fish — their bodies can't make enough on their own. Early humans who ate fish and shore foods grew bigger brains because those foods had the right nutrients.
Surprising Findings
Zellweger syndrome patients with near-zero brain DHA show severe neurological damage—but giving them DHA supplements improves symptoms.
Most people assume the body can compensate for nutrient gaps, but here, even a genetic defect proves DHA isn’t just helpful—it’s non-negotiable for brain function.
Practical Takeaways
If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or feeding an infant, choose formula fortified with preformed DHA (from algae or fish oil) or eat fatty fish 2–3x/week.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Babies need to get DHA directly from food like breast milk or fish — their bodies can't make enough on their own. Early humans who ate fish and shore foods grew bigger brains because those foods had the right nutrients.
Surprising Findings
Zellweger syndrome patients with near-zero brain DHA show severe neurological damage—but giving them DHA supplements improves symptoms.
Most people assume the body can compensate for nutrient gaps, but here, even a genetic defect proves DHA isn’t just helpful—it’s non-negotiable for brain function.
Practical Takeaways
If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or feeding an infant, choose formula fortified with preformed DHA (from algae or fish oil) or eat fatty fish 2–3x/week.
Publication
Journal
The British journal of nutrition
Year
2007
Authors
S. Cunnane
Related Content
Claims (4)
People think our big brains evolved because our ancestors ate lots of fish and shellfish from the shore — these foods have special nutrients that help brains grow, and you can’t get as much of them from plants or land animals.
Eating foods with a type of omega-3 called ALA (like flaxseeds or walnuts) won’t give your body enough of the important omega-3 called DHA—even if you take big supplements of ALA or another omega-3 called EPA.
Your brain needs a specific fat called DHA to grow properly, and if you don’t get it from food, your body can’t make enough on its own—so eating foods with DHA can help prevent serious brain problems, especially in babies and kids.
Babies need to get DHA directly from their food—like breast milk—to grow healthy brains. Babies who are breastfed have about half again as much DHA in their brains as babies who only drink formula without DHA, even though their bodies can try to make DHA from plants.