DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)Is DHA safe while breastfeeding?
Updated 9 Nov 2026
Short answer
LactMed, the US database on medicines and breastfeeding, gives 250 to 375 mg of DHA and EPA a day as the current advice for nursing mothers.[1] The US FDA considers fish oil up to 3 g a day generally safe as a food.[1]
The DHA in breast milk rises with the dose. In one trial, DHA was 0.21% of the fatty acids in milk with placebo and 1.13% with 1.3 g of DHA a day.[1] With fish oil, the most common complaint is burping with a fishy taste. The smell of breast milk does not change.[1]
Sources (1)
- Marine Oils. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), 2026. PMID 30000958
More about dha (docosahexaenoic acid)
What is DHA?Does DHA lower inflammation?How much DHA is recommended in pregnancy?What is the difference between DHA and EPA?What is DHA used for?Can the body make its own DHA?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.