DSM launches DHA and ARA powders for infant nutrition

Royal DSM, a purpose-led, global science-based company active in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, announces the launch of its new, high-quality microbial DHASCO^®-B and ARASCO^® powders for infant nutrition. These powders contain a minimum of 110 mg DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) or ARA (arachidonic acid) respectively and are produced with life’sDHA^® and life’s™ARA oils — trusted sources of sustainable vegetarian DHA omega-3 and ARA omega-6.

DSM’s DHASCO^®-B and ARASCO^® powders boast a clean label, are naturally free from contaminants, do not contain engineered nanomaterials and are made with ingredients of conventional (non-GM) origin. These powders are designed for easy addition to dry-blending manufacturing processes and support production of products with a longer shelf life and greater stability. DHASCO^®-B and ARASCO^® powders are safe, natural and support optimal developmental outcomes in infants.

“Research suggests that the intake of both DHA and ARA during infancy has positive effects on brain growth, cognitive and visual development, and immune function. Parents, including those who cannot, or choose not to breastfeed, should have access to safe and reliable infant nutrition products that contain these critical nutrients,” said Ethan Leonard, Vice President Specialty Early Life Nutrition, DSM Nutritional Products. “We carefully formulated DHASCO^®-B and ARASCO^® powders to ensure compliance with evolving regulations worldwide and support manufacturers in creating high-quality infant formula products with DHA and ARA that help them to shape healthy futures for children everywhere.”

Science supporting the combination of DHA and ARA in infant nutrition

DHA and ARA are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) that play a crucial role in infant health and development.^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9} Breast milk is the gold standard for infant nutrition and naturally contains both DHA and ARA, typically with ARA levels higher than those of DHA.^10,11 Breast milk is used as a reference for the formulation of substitutes, which are designed to mimic the composition and functionality of breast milk as closely as possible.

Recent publications by infant nutrition experts have recommended the addition of DHA and ARA to infant and follow-on formula during the first year of life — a critical window of development.^12,13,14 DHA supports brain and cognitive development, mental adaptability and problem solving, and information processing, while ARA may play a role in supporting the development of a healthy immune system, bone formation, blood flow and blood vessel function.^{15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23}

life’sDHA^® and life’s^TMARA are two of the most studied and tested microbial LC-PUFAs on the market. The life’sDHA^® and life’s^TMARA brands represent DSM’s commitment to safety, quality and reliability, with more than 234 million infants estimated to have been nourished with life’sDHA^® and life’s^TMARA since their introduction in the late 1990s. 

References: 

1. Hadley KB, Ryan AS, Forsyth S, Gautier S, Salem N Jr. (2016). The Essentiality of Arachidonic Acid in Infant Development.Nutrients.12;8(4):216.
2. Richard C, Lewis ED, Field CJ. (2016) Evidence for the essentiality of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid in the postnatal maternal and infant diet for the development of the infant's immune system early in life. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 41(5):461-75.
3. Lepping RJ, Honea RA, Martin LE, Liao K, Choi I-Y, Lee P, Papa, VB, Brooks WM, Shaddy DJ, Carlson SE, Colombo J, Gustafson KM (2019) Long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in the first year of life affects brain function, structure, and metabolism at age nine years. Developmental Psychobiology, 61: 5–16.
4. Lien EL, Richard C, Hoffman DR. (2017) DHA and ARA addition to infant formula: Current status and future research directions. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.128:26-40. Review.
5. Nettleton JA & Salem N Jr (2019) International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids 2018 Symposium: Arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in infant development. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, 74: 83–91.
6. Colombo J, Carlson SE, Cheatham CL, Shaddy DJ, Kerling EH, Thodosoff JM, Gustafson KM, Brez C. (2013) Long-term effects of LCPUFA supplementation on childhood cognitive outcomes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 98: 403-412.
7. Colombo J, Jill Shaddy D, Kerling EH, Gustafson KM, Carlson SE. (2017). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) balance in developmental outcomes. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.121:52-56.
8. Hadley KB, Ryan AS, Forsyth S, Gautier S, Salem N Jr. (2016). The Essentiality of Arachidonic Acid in Infant Development.Nutrients.12;8(4):216.
9. Richard C, Lewis ED, Field CJ. (2016) Evidence for the essentiality of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid in the postnatal maternal and infant diet for the development of the infant's immune system early in life. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 41(5):461-75.
10. Brenna TJ, Varamini B, Jensen RG et al.; “Docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid concentrations in human breast milk worldwide”; Am J Clin Nutr. 2007; 85(6):1457-64.
11. Fu Y, Liu X, Zhou B, Jiang AC, Chai L. (2016) An updated review of worldwide levels of docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid in human breast milk by region. Public Health Nutrition, 19(15): 2675-2687.
12. Koletzko B, Bergman K, Brenna TJ, Calder PC, Campoy C, Clandinin MT, Colombo J. Daly M, Decsi T, Demmelmair H, Domellöf M, Mis NF, Gonzales-Casanova I, Van Goudoever JB, Hadjipanayis A, Hernell O, Lapillone A, Mader S, Martin CR, Matthäus V, Ramakrishan U, Smuts CM, Strain SJJ, Tanjung C, Tounian P & Carlson SE 2019, “Should Formula for Infants provide arachidonic acid along with docosahexaenoic acid? A position paper of the European Academy of Pediatrics and the Child Health Foundation”. Am J Clin Nutr. 2020.111(1):10-16.
13. Tounian P, Bellaïche M, Legrand P, (2019). Pourquoi doit-on craindre les carences lipidiques en pédiatrie ? Réalités Pédiatriques, Juin 2019.
14. Nettleton JA & Salem N Jr (2019) International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids 2018 Symposium: Arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in infant development. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, 74: 83–91.
15. Hadley KB, Ryan AS, Forsyth S, Gautier S, Salem N Jr. (2016). The Essentiality of Arachidonic Acid in Infant Development.Nutrients.12;8(4):216.
16. Richard C, Lewis ED, Field CJ. (2016) Evidence for the essentiality of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid in the postnatal maternal and infant diet for the development of the infant's immune system early in life. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 41(5):461-75.
17. Lepping RJ, Honea RA, Martin LE, Liao K, Choi I-Y, Lee P, Papa, VB, Brooks WM, Shaddy DJ, Carlson SE, Colombo J, Gustafson KM (2019) Long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in the first year of life affects brain function, structure, and metabolism at age nine years. Developmental Psychobiology, 61: 5–16.
18. Lien EL, Richard C, Hoffman DR. (2017) DHA and ARA addition to infant formula: Current status and future research directions. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.128:26-40. Review.
19. Nettleton JA & Salem N Jr (2019) International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids 2018 Symposium: Arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in infant development. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, 74: 83–91.
20. Colombo J, Carlson SE, Cheatham CL, Shaddy DJ, Kerling EH, Thodosoff JM, Gustafson KM, Brez C. (2013) Long-term effects of LCPUFA supplementation on childhood cognitive outcomes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 98: 403-412.
21. Colombo J, Jill Shaddy D, Kerling EH, Gustafson KM, Carlson SE. (2017). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) balance in developmental outcomes. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.121:52-56.