Royal DSM, a purpose-led, global science-based company active in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, announces the launch of its new, high-quality microbial DHASCO^®-B and ARASCO^® powders for infant nutrition. These powders contain a minimum of 110 mg DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) or ARA (arachidonic acid) respectively and are produced with life’sDHA^® and life’s™ARA oils — trusted sources of sustainable vegetarian DHA omega-3 and ARA omega-6.

DSM’s DHASCO^®-B and ARASCO^® powders boast a clean label, are naturally free from contaminants, do not contain engineered nanomaterials and are made with ingredients of conventional (non-GM) origin. These powders are designed for easy addition to dry-blending manufacturing processes and support production of products with a longer shelf life and greater stability. DHASCO^®-B and ARASCO^® powders are safe, natural and support optimal developmental outcomes in infants.

“Research suggests that the intake of both DHA and ARA during infancy has positive effects on brain growth, cognitive and visual development, and immune function. Parents, including those who cannot, or choose not to breastfeed, should have access to safe and reliable infant nutrition products that contain these critical nutrients,” said Ethan Leonard, Vice President Specialty Early Life Nutrition, DSM Nutritional Products. “We carefully formulated DHASCO^®-B and ARASCO^® powders to ensure compliance with evolving regulations worldwide and support manufacturers in creating high-quality infant formula products with DHA and ARA that help them to shape healthy futures for children everywhere.”

Science supporting the combination of DHA and ARA in infant nutrition

DHA and ARA are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) that play a crucial role in infant health and development.^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9} Breast milk is the gold standard for infant nutrition and naturally contains both DHA and ARA, typically with ARA levels higher than those of DHA.^10,11 Breast milk is used as a reference for the formulation of substitutes, which are designed to mimic the composition and functionality of breast milk as closely as possible.

Recent publications by infant nutrition experts have recommended the addition of DHA and ARA to infant and follow-on formula during the first year of life — a critical window of development.^12,13,14 DHA supports brain and cognitive development, mental adaptability and problem solving, and information processing, while ARA may play a role in supporting the development of a healthy immune system, bone formation, blood flow and blood vessel function.^{15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23}

life’sDHA^® and life’s^TMARA are two of the most studied and tested microbial LC-PUFAs on the market. The life’sDHA^® and life’s^TMARA brands represent DSM’s commitment to safety, quality and reliability, with more than 234 million infants estimated to have been nourished with life’sDHA^® and life’s^TMARA since their introduction in the late 1990s.

For more information about DSM’s nutritional lipids portfolio for infant nutrition, visit our website.