Interest in omega-3 and omega-6 has increased following several scientific studies showing that infants fed formula supplemented with omega-3 and omega-6 gained intellectual and visual benefits not found in infants who were fed standard formulas without omega-3 and omega-6.

Scientific Studies on the Benefits of the Lipids Omega-3 and Omega-6

A longitudinal study of children from birth to 18 years that examined early diets and subsequent cognitive outcomes found that breastfeeding was associated with increased cognitive ability and school performance during childhood and adolescence.¹

These benefits were attributed to the effects of long-chain, polyunsaturated fatty acids--particularly omega-3--in early neurodevelopment.

In another study, researchers in England found that women who regularly ate oily fish (a source of omega-3) throughout pregnancy and during lactation gave birth to children who had better visual development at the age of three compared to those children whose mothers did not breast feed.²

Benefits of Omega-3 and Omega-6 in Infant Formula

The benefits of omega-3 and omega-6 have been documented in numerous scientific studies to promote cognitive and visual advantages in infants fed infant formulas enriched with omega-3 and omega-6:

Based on their IQ test results later in childhood, infants in one study who were fed formula with omega-3 and omega-6 achieved higher problem-solving skills than infants who were fed standard formulas.³

Another study revealed that infants fed formula with omega-3 and omega-6 earned higher marks on IQ tests at the age of 18 months.⁴These infants also had superior visual acuity at four months and one year similar to the visual acuity of breastfed infants.⁵

1. Horwood, LJ and Ferguson, DM. Breastfeeding and Later Cognitive and Academic Outcomes, Pediatrics 101(1):1-7, 1998.
2. Williams, C, Birch, EE, Emmett, PM et al. Stereoacuity at Age 3.5 Years in Children Born Full Term is Associated with Prenatal and Postnatal Dietary Factors: A Report From a Population-Based Cohort Study, Am J Clin Nutr 73:316-322, 2001.
3. Willatts, P, Forsyth, JS, DiModugno, MK et al. Effect of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Infant Formula on Problem Solving at 10 Months of Age, Lancet 352:688-691, 1998.
4. Birch, EE, Garfield, S, Hoffman, DR et al. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Early Dietary Supply of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Mental Development in Term Infants, Dev Med Child Neurol 42:174-181, 2000.
5. Birch, EE, Hoffman, DR, Uauy, R et al. Visual Acuity and the Essentiality of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Arachidonic Acid in the Diet of Term Infants, Pediatr Res 44:201-209, 1998.