A significant proportion of Indonesian children aged four to 12 are consuming less DHA than recommended, prompting calls for increased dietary awareness to support cognitive and neural growth during critical schooling years.
Children’s intake of DHA, an omega-3 fat, remains a concern in Indonesia, especially as many school-age children move through years of rapid learning and brain maturation. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2016 found that about eight in 10 Indonesian children aged four to 12 were getting less EPA and DHA than the minimum levels recommended by the FAO and WHO. Another analysis of diet data from more than 45,000 Indonesian children aged four to 12 reached a similar conclusion, finding that most children were below recommended levels of polyunsaturated fats, including DHA.
DHA matters because it supports the development and function of the nervous system, including the brain. As children enter primary school, their eating and drinking habits often change, with flavoured drinks such as chocolate drinks, bottled tea and soft drinks becoming more common, while milk intake may fall. That makes it harder for parents to rely on any single food or drink to cover a child’s nutritional needs.
Paediatrician Shyrien Amalina said adequate intakes of essential fats such as arachidonic acid and DHA remain important for school-age children and teenagers because they support learning and brain maturation. Speaking on Saturday, August 22, 2026, Shyrien said that although the brain develops most quickly in the first 1,000 days of life, myelination in the prefrontal cortex continues into the teenage years. Myelination is the process that helps nerve cells transmit signals more efficiently, and the prefrontal cortex is involved in attention, planning, decision-making and impulse control.
Research on DHA and cognition suggests the issue is important but still not fully settled. A 2022 paper indexed on PubMed found that DHA is clearly important for brain development, yet the exact dietary amount needed for best cognitive performance in school-age children remains unclear. Other studies cited in the available summaries have linked higher intake of DHA, choline and lutein with better cognitive performance, reinforcing the view that brain health depends on a broader pattern of nutrients rather than a single ingredient alone. For parents, the practical message is straightforward: a varied diet that includes omega-3-rich foods may help support a child’s overall development.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
