Health Benefits of Docosahexaenoic Acid Fortified Milk and Milk Products

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that provide a variety of health benefits from the conception to old age. The three omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is one of the most important omega-3 fatty acids which is crucial for the proper development of the brain, nerve and eye tissue of unborn babies in the last three months of pregnancy and during the early months of infancy. It is also essential throughout the lifespan for the ongoing maintenance of the brain, visual acuity and the nervous system but they cannot be synthesized in the body and must be obtained from dietary sources. The DHA in the body can come either through bioconversion of dietary ALA and linoleic acid (LA) or as preformed dietary DHA from fish andseafoods. In this article, an endeavour of several health benefits of DHA and its fortification in milk and milk products has been made.