Babies, Parenting, Child Health, Infant Nutrition

Infant Nutrition - Infant formula with added Fish Oil May Help Infants

11.02.2007 | 12:11:18 pm | Posted by mummums

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

Scientists and researchers alike have long been working towards creating an infant formula that is comparable to breast milk. A recent move in this direction is the addition of omega-3 fatty acids to infant formula. These long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids may help infants produce more proteins in muscle cells, regulate blood sugar, and increase IQ.

Fish Oils and Infant Development
The connection between fish oils and infant development was sparked by the beneficial qualities of DHA. Found in cold-water fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts; DHA is the predominant fatty acid in the brain necessary for vision and vascular function and vital for proper infant brain development. Previous studies have focused on expectant mothers’ nutrition, concluding that the more DHA a mother ate, the more DHA a baby had at birth. A more recent study, however, found that neonate piglets fed a formula containing 3.5% fatty acids from fish oil had increased protein production. The piglets’ cells also showed a preference for using omega-3 fatty acids, which could provide insight not only into infant development but also into future metabolic health.

Breast milk Vs. Formula
As the saying goes, “breast is best”. There are times however, when formula is needed. The obvious question on everyone’s mind of course is why hasn’t anyone figured out how to make an infant formula that is just like breast milk? The answer is that a mother’s breast milk is constantly changing in order to meet the changing needs of her baby. Also, the components of breast milk vary from mother to mother. One striking difference between infant formula and breast milk is the DHA content. Breast milk contains a high level of DHA while most commercial infant formula contains none; hence the reason for the current research. The DHA content of breast milk can also vary depending on the amount of DHA in the mother’s diet.

The jury is still out
While some research concludes that the addition of fish oils may be beneficial to infant health and development, other research concludes it is not really necessary and could in fact be potentially harmful. For instance, much of the research has been done on animals with researchers making a presumption that the benefits may be similar in humans. Also, no clinical research has been done on the long-term effects or potential risks. In fact, current infant formulas are under close watch by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and must abide by strict guidelines for adding supplements to infant formula.

A varied whole-food based diet rich in omega-3 containing foods such as flaxseed, walnuts, fresh oily fish, and or flax seed oils will provide many of the nutrients a nursing mom needs to provide her baby with essential DHA. Speaking with a nutritionist or registered dietitian will help ensure you are consuming the nutrients and vitamins your nursing baby needs. Also, talk to your physician if you have any concerns and to help find an infant formula that is right for you and your baby.

References:
1. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2007, October 15). Baby Formula With Fish Oil Added May Help Infants.
2. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 71, No. 1, 285S-291s, January 2000
© 2000 American Society for Clinical Nutrition

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