Ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA), esencialidad y requerimientos: porqué y cómo proporcionar (o suministrar) la suplementación

Autores/as

  • Alfonso Valenzuela Laboratory of Lipids and Antioxidants, INTA, University of Chile. School of Medicine, University of los Andes
  • B. Julio Sanhueza Laboratory of Lipids and Antioxidants, INTA, University of Chile
  • Susana Nieto Laboratory of Lipids and Antioxidants, INTA, University of Chile

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/gya.2006.v57.i2.43

Palabras clave:

Docosahexaenoic acid, Brain development, Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation, Docosahexaenoic acid sources

Resumen


Los lípidos comprenden entre el 50-60% de la estructura del cerebro, y el ácido docosahexaenoico (C22:6, DHA) es el ácido graso poliinsaturado de cadena larga de los fosfolípidos del cerebro más importante, siendo el 25% del total de los ácidos grasos. La mayor parte del DHA presente en el cerebro se incorpora durante el desarrollo de este, el que comienza a la 26ava semana gestacional, generando una alta demanda por el ácido graso hasta los dos años de edad. El DHA se requiere en el desarrollo cerebral durante la diferenciación neuronal y glial, y durante la mielinización y la sinaptogénesis neuronal El ácido graso debe ser incorporado a los lípidos del cerebro preformado ya que menos de un 5% de su precursor, el ácido alfa linolénico (LNA), se convierte a DHA. El feto humano tiene una capacidad muy limitada para sintetizar DHA a partir de LNA, por lo cual debe ser aportado por fuentes de origen materno. El DHA puede ser aportado por la madre a partir de tres fuentes principales; desde el tejido adiposo, cual es el principal reservorio del ácido graso, a partir de la biosíntesis desde el precursor LNA, la que ocurre principalmente en el hígado, o como ácido graso preformado proveniente de la dieta. Durante el período postnatal, el DHA es aportado por la madre al recién nacido a través de la leche. La nutrición occidental aporta baja cantidad de LNA y de DHA, y los Comités de Expertos en Nutrición sugieren que la madre debe recibir una suplementación con DHA durante el embarazo y la lactancia. Actualmente, la suplementación con DHA puede ser aportada a partir de diferentes fuentes; como DHA puro, como un etil éster, como aceite obtenido de microalgas, a partir de los fosfolípidos de la yema de huevo, o en la forma de un sn-2 monoacilglicerol. En esta revisión se discute sobre la evidencia que apoya la suplementación del recién nacido con DHA, la necesidad de la suplementación de la madre durante el embarazo y la lactancia, y sobre cuales son al presente las alternativas para proveer la suplementación con DHA.

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Publicado

2006-06-30

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1.
Valenzuela A, Julio Sanhueza B, Nieto S. Ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA), esencialidad y requerimientos: porqué y cómo proporcionar (o suministrar) la suplementación. Grasas aceites [Internet]. 30 de junio de 2006 [citado 30 de julio de 2026];57(2):229-37. Disponible en: https://grasasyaceites.revistas.csic.es/index.php/grasasyaceites/article/view/43

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