BABY'S ONLY ESSENTIALS DHA FATTY ACID

Ingredient List

Baby’s Only Essentials^® DHA & ARA is gluten free and wheat free. The DHA/ARA product contains three ingredients:

* Egg Phospholipids
* Natural Flavor (used in Baby's Only Organic Dairy, Lactose Free and Soy Toddler Formula)
* Organic Rice Oligodextrin

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Allergen Information

Contains egg.

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Essential Fatty Acids

There are two basic groupings of fatty acids called (1) essential fatty acids or “precursor fats” (as found in Baby’s Only Organic^® Toddler formulas) and (2) non-essential fatty acids which can also be “preformed fats” (as found in Baby’s Only Essentials^® DHA and ARA Fatty Acid Supplement*).

Baby’s Only Organic^® Toddler formulas contain two essential (precursor) fats: Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) and Linoleic Acid (LA). Alpha-Linolenic and Linoleic fatty acids are called “essential” because the human body cannot make these fats and therefore it is essential to derive them from food sources. Alpha-Linolenic Acid is an omega-3 used by the body to make Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Linoleic Acid is an omega-6 used by the body to make Arachidonic Acid (ARA). DHA and ARA are called “non-essential” fatty acids because infants, children, and adults can manufacture these from Alpha-Linolenic and Linoleic fatty acids.

Baby’s Only Essentials^® DHA and ARA Fatty Acid Supplement is made with preformed DHA and ARA long-chain fatty acids. This means the fats are already available in their final forms and the body does not need to manufacture them from the precursor fats, Alpha-Linolenic and Linoleic fatty acids.

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Rice Oligodextrin

Organic rice oligodextrin is an organic rice starch used in Baby’s Only Essentials^® DHA and ARA Fatty Acid Supplement as a “flow” agent to aid in the dispersion of the fatty acids for consistency in packaging. It is made from organic whole rice using a natural hydrolysis process without the use of acids, alkalis or sulfites. It has a bland flavor and is one-fifth as sweet as sucrose and helps to provide a pleasant but not too sweet flavor. Because organic rice oligodextrin is a starch, it is a complex carbohydrate and not a simple sugar. Complex carbohydrates take longer to digest and thus provide a steadier source of energy to growing children.

Organic rice is grown by certified organic rice growers without synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and growth regulators. The organic growth process relies on crop rotations, legumes, green manures, mineral bearing rocks and biological pest control to maintain healthy soils, provide the rice plants with nutrients, and minimize insects, weeds and other pests. The organic rice oligodextrin is sourced from California where the rice fields serve as an important wetland habitat for resident birds and waterfowl and also as a wintering ground and food source for migrating ducks and geese from Canada and Alaska.

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Egg Phospholipids

In 2003, the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition sited a study that concluded egg phospholipids are more bio-available than other sources used in the study. These other sources were fish oil and algal oil. Because it is more easily incorporated into the body, less egg phospholipids had to be consumed in order to achieve the desired effect.*

*Gil, A., Ramirez, M. and Gil, M., "Role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant nutrition," European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2003)57, Suppl 1, S31-34.

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Potato Maltodextrin

Potato maltodextrin is a potato starch. This ingredient is used in Baby’s Only Essentials^® DHA and ARA Fatty Acid Supplement as a “flow” agent to aid in the dispersion of the fatty acids for consistency in packaging. It is bland in flavor and not sweet. Because starches are complex carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates take longer to digest and thus provide a steadier source of energy to growing children.

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Choline

Choline is an essential nutrient necessary for the structure and function of all cells in the body and is especially important during periods of rapid growth and development. Choline is also an important nutrient needed for the production of neurotransmitters and development of the memory center of the brain, impacting long-term memory. According to a recent article, “pregnancy and lactation are periods when maternal reserves of choline are depleted. At the same time, the availability of choline for normal development of a baby’s brain is critical.” 1 Thus, choline-rich foods are important in pregnancy, lactation, infancy and childhood. The choline in Baby’s Only Essentials® DHA and ARA Fatty Acid Supplement is derived from phospholipids in egg yolk and is, therefore, an excellent and natural source of choline. Each packet of Baby’s Only Essentials® DHA and ARA contains 65 milligrams of choline.

1. Zeisel, S. H., et al, “Nutritional importance of choline for brain development,” J Amer Coll Nutr, 2004;23 (6 Suppl. S):621S-626S.

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Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a very important part of a developing body as all cells in the human body require it for structure! Cholesterol is also needed by the body to manufacture Vitamin D, various needed hormones, and bile acid. Not only do we eat foods that contain cholesterol, our body also manufactures its own supply. In fact, breast milk contains approximately 90-150 milligrams of cholesterol per 34 ounces of breast milk. Cholesterol plays a critical role in the growth and development of infants and is believed to assist in normal cholesterol production as the baby matures.1 The cholesterol in Baby's Only Essentials® Fatty Acid Supplement is derived from egg phospholipids, found naturally in egg yolk. Each packet of our DHA & ARA contains 50 milligrams of cholesterol. Nature's One^® recommends up to 2 packets per day, totaling 100 milligrams of cholesterol, which is in line with the usual range of cholesterol in the daily consumption of breast milk.

1. Demmers, TA, Jones, PJH, et al “Effects of early cholesterol intake on cholesterol biosynthesis and plasma lipids among infants until 18 months of age,” Pediatrics, 115:6, 2005, 1594-1601. The following references are excellent sources of information for parents on child feeding: Satter, Ellen. Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense. Bull Publishing Co., 2000. Berman, Christine and Fromer, Jacki. Meals without Squeals: Child Care Feeding Guide and Cookbook. Bull Publishing Co., 1997.

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Natural Flavor

The “natural flavor” is an all natural vanilla that is organic compliant and gluten-free. The vanilla helps mask the off-flavors associated with the fatty acids found in Baby's Only Essentials^® DHA & ARA. Once a baby develops the sense of taste, they appreciate the natural vanilla flavor.

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Omega-3 Sources

Foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids are converted to DHA (and EPA eicosapentaenoic acid) and are available from fish such as salmon, sardine, tuna, and lake trout. Foods containing Omega-6 fatty acids are converted to ARA and are present in animal meats, dairy foods, eggs peanuts and nori seaweed.

As your child increases the variety of foods he eats, you can include some of these foods in his diet. But, also remember that these fatty acids can be formed from dietary linoleic and linolenic acids (nuts, seeds, grains legumes, vegetables and their cold-pressed oils). By including good sources of high quality fats in the diet, your child will easily be able to meet his specific needs.

** The FDA and EPA recommend no more that 12 ounces per week of these fish and shellfish.

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