What is DHA, and how do vegetarian kids get it?

DHA, short for docosahexaenoic acid, is an omega-3 fatty acid. It is concentrated in the brain and in the retina of the eye, which is why it comes up so often in conversations about children's nutrition.

What does DHA do?

DHA is part of the membranes of brain cells, the structures through which those cells pass signals. DHA and choline support normal cognitive function, and children's brains keep developing right through the school years.

Where does DHA come from?

The body makes only small amounts of DHA on its own, so most of it comes from food:

• Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are the richest sources.
• Eggs carry smaller amounts.
• Algae are where fish get their DHA in the first place, and algal oil is the main vegetarian source.

Plant foods such as flaxseed, walnuts and chia contain a different omega-3, ALA. The body converts only a small share of ALA into DHA, so these foods are good for other reasons but are not a reliable DHA source on their own.

The vegetarian gap

In a vegetarian household, a child may get very little DHA from the everyday menu. That is not a cause for alarm, but it is a gap worth knowing about, and algal DHA is the most direct way to close it without fish oil.

DHA works alongside other nutrients

The brain draws on more than one nutrient. Choline, vitamin B12, zinc and copper all play roles in normal brain function and development, which is why we think of them together as a brain stack.

How Leap of Love includes it

Every glass of Leap of Love Double Chocolate contains 42 mg of vegetarian DHA from algae, together with choline, B12, zinc and copper. No fish oil, so it suits vegetarian families. The full breakdown is on the science page.

General information only. If your child has a specific health concern, speak to your paediatrician.