What is Brain Gold, and what are its functions?
What is Brain Gold, and what are its functions?
Currently, people commonly refer to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid, as Brain Gold. Its English abbreviation is DHA. In recent years, research on the unsaturated fatty acids DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been extensive.
DHA easily crosses the blood-brain barrier to enter brain cells, where it is present in brain cells and their projections. About 10% of brain cell lipids consist of DHA. Therefore, DHA plays a crucial role in the formation, growth, development of brain cells, and the extension and growth of neuronal projections. It is an essential substance for human brain development and intellectual enhancement, offering certain benefits for children's intelligence. Chemical analysis shows that DHA is a key component of the cerebral cortex and retina. DHA passes through the placenta into the fetus’s liver and brain. During the late pregnancy stage to six months after birth, the fetal brain and retina develop most rapidly, requiring ample DHA. If DHA intake is insufficient, newborns may have low birth weight and be prone to premature delivery. Since DHA is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, it is highly susceptible to oxidation, producing harmful peroxidation substances when oxidized. Manufacturers should pay attention to antioxidant measures; products must be sealed, oxygen-free, light-protected, and stored at low temperatures. Consumers are advised to take vitamin E simultaneously, as it has antioxidant properties.
EPA metabolizes in the body into prostaglandin PGI3, enhancing sexual function, and shows good effects in treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, since EPA cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, it does not improve children's intelligence. Excessive intake in children may lead to early puberty. Both DHA and EPA are naturally found in marine fish oils, with some fish oils containing much higher levels of EPA than DHA. Overall, neither is an essential nutrient—humans can generally synthesize them internally to meet needs. Moderate supplementation is acceptable, especially for children, the elderly, and pregnant women, but excessive intake may cause side effects. If manufacturers have low technological standards or face issues with fish species, fish oil or simply processed fish oil used in supplements may contain very high levels of EPA—some capsules (0.45 grams) contain up to 80–100 mg of EPA, which is unsuitable for children. Thus, "Brain Gold" products intended for children should be specially formulated, and parents must pay close attention to EPA content when purchasing. Additionally, children do not benefit from consuming more DHA—overconsumption may cause nervous system overexcitement. According to experiments, children aged 7–8 who took 90 mg of pure DHA daily for one week exhibited extreme excitement and difficulty sleeping even at midnight. Japanese DHA-fortified milk powder contains about 10 mg of DHA per 100 ml of milk, equivalent to 25 mg in a 250 ml serving—this reflects safety and effectiveness considerations for regular child consumption. As dietary fish intake in China is lower than in Japan, children should ideally consume no more than 30 mg of DHA per day.