Nutrition Expert: Lack of DHA Intake Can Disrupt Children’s Brain Development
Jakarta, MINA – Nutrition Expert and General Chair of Nutrition and Food, Prof. Dr. Hardinsyah said lack of DHA essential fatty acid intake can disrupt children’s brain development and learning ability.
“This situation is very concerning given the fact that 8 out of 10 Indonesian children experience a lack of consumption of DHA and Omega 3,” Hardiansyah said as quoted in Jakarta, Thursday.
He stated that what makes sad, based on the results of research by nutrition experts from UI and IPB, including Prof. Dr. Ahmad Sulaeman, it was known that more than 80 percent of Indonesian children proven to lack DHA, one of the nutritional elements that influence children’s growth and intelligence.
Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) itself is a group of fatty acids that are important for human health and must be fulfilled from food intake.
Prof. Hardinsyah, who is also the Chancellor of Sahid University, said that DHA and other essential fatty acid groups play an important role in the development of children’s brain.
“Lack of DHA can cause nerve damage,” said the IPB Professor.
Meanwhile, the results of the assessment of the effectiveness of primary school education in Indonesia also proved unable to provide satisfactory results.
Students’ reasoning ability is still considered low, even though there are more elementary school hours in this country than other countries. This fact was obtained as an Educational Assessment Result for Policies implemented by the Ministry of Education and Culture, on December 14, 2016.
In comparison, in one year, Indonesia imposed 1,095 lesson hours. Whereas South Korea only has 903 study hours per year.
In Japan, even fewer, they only apply 712 hours of study per year. And the results of their educational assessment are ranked in the world’s top.
“It’s time for parents, families and all parties to pay attention to the problem of DHA deficiency in Indonesian children through food intake containing DHA and omega 3 for their future,” said Hardiansyah. (TL/Sj/P2)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
