Expert: Dr.Paul Skett - 8/22/2009

Question
Hello,

Until a few years ago, I have basically lived my life with literally no omega 3 consumption. I am much more aware now, and have made a point to live a much healthier life style. Anyway what concerns me is that I was reading that roughly 8% of a human brain by weight, is DHA..... I realize that could be wrong, but regardless I know DHA can't be produced in the human body, is very important in the structure of cells, and cognitive function. When my mother was pregnant with me she was a malnourished vegetarian. I know she didn't consume any omega 3 at all, not even ALA, and until I was 16 years old I was also an extremely picky vegetarian. We were a severely poor family and lived off of the cheapest product possible. We would eat canned pasta, frozen french fries, cheap noname tomato soup, and some other transfat rich, cheap food.... Anyway I probably consume more Omega 3 per day now than my mother and I did during the first 16 years of my life. Because our bodies can't produce any omega 3, and it is important for pregnant mothers to have alot of DHA, ect., what do you believe is the result of no consumption of any omega 3 at all during pregnancy, and growing up? Would supplementation right now make up for any of that?

Answer
Hi, Xavier,

Thanks for your question.

It would be very difficult to work out what, if any, effects were caused by the diet in your early years - you must have been getting some essential fatty acids from somewhere in the diet (but, as you say , maybe not the recommended amount).

Any developmental damage done would not be reversible but a sensible diet with the recommended amount of EFAs would limit any further damage. It would be no use overdoing the EFAs now - in overdose they can also be damaging.

It is encouraging to see that you now live a healthy lifestyle - keep it up!!

Best wishes,

Paul