Why was it a mistake not to make the addition of arachidonic acid to infant formula mandatory?

Arachidonic (ARA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUPA) necessary for optimal infant neurological development, and immunologic one also for ARA. European Commission mandated DHA addition to infant formulas elaborated from February 2020, while ARA addition remained optional. The aim of our paper is to show that both PUFA should absolutely be added in infant formulas. Arguments supporting this position are as follows: (1) the ARA concentration in breast milk is higher than DHA one; (2) without any diet intake, ARA synthesis may not be sufficient in regard to its wide-range biological non neurologic functions; (3) variants in genes coding for desaturases present in 30% of individuals alter LCPUFA status and compromise infant health status, in the absence of ARA intake; (4) a ARA/DHA ratio lower than 1 in formulas alters neurologic development. For all these reasons, ARA and not only DHA should be added to infant formulas. (C) 2020 Societe francaise de nutrition. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.