DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid) are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) naturally present in breast milk. Both play essential roles in early development, with DHA concentrated in brain
Innis, S. M. (2007). Dietary (n-3) fatty acids and brain development. In Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/137.4.855
and eye tissue
DHA and ARA and Visual Development – Scientific Substantiation of a Health Claim Related to Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Arachidonic Acid (ARA) and Visual Development Pursuant to Article14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006,” 2009
, and ARA supporting cellular signalling
FAO 2010 FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 91.
, immune function
Richard, C., Lewis, E. D., & Field, C. J. (2016). Evidence for the essentiality of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid in the postnatal maternal and infant diet for the development of the infant’s immune system early in life. In Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2015-0660
and overall growth. These nutrients accumulate rapidly in the first two to three years of life – when brain development is most intense
Cohen Kadosh, K. et al. Nutritional Support of Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Function in Infants and Young Children — An Update and Novel Insights. Nutrients 13, 1–26 (2021).
– making their inclusion in infant formula particularly important when breast milk is not available or sufficient.
Since LCPUFAs are sensitive to oxidation, micro-encapsulation of DHA and ARA in a powder matrix ensures nutritional and sensory stability. Encapsulation protects these fragile lipids through processing and storage, supporting reliable performance in infant and early life nutrition products while meeting regulatory, quality and consumer expectations.
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as DHA and ARA are structural components of the brain and retina. These nutrients play a key role during the brain’s growth spurt – starting in late pregnancy and continuing through infancy
Innis, S. M. (2007). Dietary (n-3) fatty acids and brain development. In Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/137.4.855
– and are vital for cognitive, visual and immune development.
However, infants have limited capacity to produce DHA and ARA themselves from precursors, making dietary intake essential
Hadley, K. B., Ryan, A. S., Forsyth, S., Gautier, S., & Salem, N. (2016). The essentiality of arachidonic acid in infant development. In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8040216
. While breast milk delivers these fatty acids naturally, translating their function into infant formula requires precise formulation. Manufacturers must ensure stable, appropriate levels of DHA and ARA throughout processing, storage and consumption, without compromising sensory performance.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs). They are naturally present in breast milk and are key structural components of cell membranes, particularly in the brain, eyes and immune system. Because infants cannot synthesize sufficient amounts on their own, DHA and ARA must be provided through early life nutrition.
DHA and ARA play a critical role in supporting normal brain and visual development during infancy, alongside contributing to immune system development. Both long-chain fatty acids accumulate rapidly in the brain and retina during the first years of life, a period of rapid growth and development. Their presence in breast milk and inclusion in infant formula are therefore widely recognised as important for supporting optimal early life developmental outcomes.
LCPUFAs such as DHA and ARA are typically derived from natural sources such as oily fish, algae and fungi. For infant formula applications, they are produced under strictly controlled conditions to meet the highest standards for purity, stability and suitability.
As sensitive long-chain fatty acids, DHA and ARA are prone to oxidation, heat and moisture damage. Without protection, this can negatively impact nutritional quality, shelf-life and taste. Encapsulation into a powder matrix helps overcome these issues by shielding the ingredients throughout processing and storage.
Encapsulates are ingredients in which sensitive nutrients are enclosed within a protective matrix, transforming oils into stable, easy-to-handle powder formats. This is especially important for DHA and ARA, as they are highly susceptible to oxidation and sensory degradation. By shielding these nutrients from oxygen, moisture and heat, encapsulation helps preserve nutritional quality, mask unwanted flavours and improve stability during manufacture and storage.
Yes. DHA and ARA continue to support healthy development beyond infancy, particularly during toddlerhood, when the brain reaches around 80% of its adult size
Nelson, C. A. (2000). Neural plasticity and human development: The role of early experience in sculpting memory systems. Developmental Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-7687.00104
. Ongoing intake supports cognitive function, emotional regulation and immune resilience
Cohen Kadosh, K. et al. Nutritional Support of Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Function in Infants and Young Children — An Update and Novel Insights. Nutrients 13, 1–26 (2021).
.
While DHA and ARA are often formulated together, they are distinct fatty acids with different structures and biological functions. Understanding how they complement one another helps inform both nutritional targeting and formulation decisions.
| DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) | ARA (arachidonic acid) | |
| Fatty acid type | Omega-3 long-chain fatty acid | Omega-6 long-chain fatty acid |
| Primary focus | Cognitive Innis, S. M. (2007). Dietary (n-3) fatty acids and brain development. In Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/137.4.855 and visual DHA and ARA and Visual Development – Scientific Substantiation of a Health Claim Related to Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Arachidonic Acid (ARA) and Visual Development Pursuant to Article14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006,” 2009 development |
Growth and immune system support Richard, C., Lewis, E. D., & Field, C. J. (2016). Evidence for the essentiality of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid in the postnatal maternal and infant diet for the development of the infant’s immune system early in life. In Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2015-0660 |
| Health role | Essential for brain and retinal cell membranes | Supports cellular signalling and development FAO 2010 FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 91. |
| Typical dietary sources | Oily fish and algae | Animal-derived fats and certain fungi |
| Presence in breast milk | Naturally present | Naturally present |
| Formulation consideration | Delivered at defined levels of DHA | Often included alongside DHA to help maintain a balanced fatty acid profile |
Together, DHA and ARA support optimal early life development. Their combined inclusion in infant formula reflects both their biological contribution and the evolving science, regulation and formulation practices shaping early life nutrition. Explore more in our whitepaper.
FrieslandCampina Ingredients helps early-life nutrition manufacturers address the key challenges associated with ARA and DHA in infant formulas, from oxidative instability to handling.
Oxidation protection at every stage
Our FILTERMAT™ technology encapsulates each oil droplet within a protective matrix during spray drying. This reduces exposure to oxygen, heat and moisture across processing, storage and reconstitution – helping maintain nutritional quality and preventing lipid breakdown.
Read moreImproved sensory quality
Encapsulation minimises sensory off-notes by isolating the oils from direct contact with the product environment. A 24-month sensory study showed that encapsulated DHA added during dry blending significantly reduced fishy taste compared to non-encapsulated formats.
Reliable handling and process fit
The result is a free-flowing, agglomerated powder that integrates easily into dry-blend processes. This improves dosing accuracy and supports consistent, scalable formulation performance in powdered infant nutrition applications.
Our Vana-Sana™ range offers micro-encapsulated DHA and ARA in multiple formats and concentrations – – from algae to fungi to fish-based sources – enabling flexibility in formulation, protection against oxidation and support for regulatory compliance.
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Whether you’re looking to optimise oxidation stability, meet precise dosing targets or support specific nutritional requirements, our experts can help identify the encapsulated DHA and ARA formats best suited to your application.
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Encapsulated DHA and ARA are just one part of a complete infant nutrition system. We support manufacturers with high-quality base powders, maternal nutrition solutions and expert formulation guidance – all backed by more than 75 years of experience in early life nutrition.
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