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published in: Taste for Life; September, 2001 | |
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Beginning in infancy,
the right fats are critical for healthy development By Marcia Zimmerman, M.Ed., C.N. |
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For many years we've known that breast-fed babies are more resistant to respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, and other digestive disorders, thanks to hormones, immune factors, and essential fats that are unavailable in infant formulas. Recently scientists have discovered that breast fed infants also develop better visual acuity, learning ability, and long-term health than their formula-fed counterparts. A seven-year study of 674 infants showed that those who were breast-fed had significantly fewer respiratory infections, accumulated less body fat, and were less likely to develop chronic conditions than babies fed formula. The benefits were greater the longer the child was breast-fed and when solid food was introduced after four months of age. A recent review of 20 clinical trials, highlighting advantages of breast-feeding over bottle-feeding, shows that breast-fed babies enjoy a three to five point IQ (intelligence quotient)advantage over their bottle-fed counterparts. And several well-controlled studies have found that specific fatty acids are not only required for visual development but may also reduce the likelihood of developing learning problems including dyslexia. The Right Stuff The human brain contains more than 60 percent fatty material, and the composition of fats in the brain determines how this organ functions. Infant formulas currently being sold contain some essential fats - just not the right ones. Among the hundreds of nutrients unavailable to bottle-fed babies in this country are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), which give breast-fed babies a head start. Concentrated in human breast milk, these LC-PUFAs provide important signaling between brain cells. Scientists have found these fats are significantly higher in brain cortex tissue and red blood cells of breast-fed infants. But despite the growing body of evidence that LC-PUFAs are necessary for optimum brain cell development, formulas fortified with these vital fats are not available in the U. S. One Less Concern Now Mothers naturally want to provide the very best nutrition for their babies, but today many are caught in a dilemma. Although they may be convinced that breast-feeding offers important advantages, women who work outside the home have to choose between infant formula or using a breast pump and flex-time scheduling to provide enough breast milk for their infants. Several years ago, the Joint Expert Committee of the World Health Organization recommended that these LC-PUFAs, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), be added in specific ratios to formulas for pre-term infants. while DHA and ARA are currently being added to formulas in over 60 countries throughout the world, US infant formulas have not been fortified with these critical fats. Fortunately, that is about to change. In April 2001, a panel of international experts on child and maternal health confirmed the WHO recommendation and also recommended that formula for full-term babies, in addition to special formulas for preemies, be enriched with DHA and ARA. Specialists in infant nutrition have turned to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), since agency approval is a necessary step in the sale of DHA- and ARA- enriched formulas in this country. In May, 2001, the FDA completed its review of the large body of scientific evidence on DHA and ARA for infant formulas. The FDA acknowledged that the specific ratio of DHA and ARA currently being used to fortify infant formula, making them closer to human breast milk, is GRAS (generally recognized as safe)and can be included in infant formula produced in this country. GRAS status is the first hurdle to be overcome in providing smart start formulas. However, formula manufacturers in the U.S. still need to satisfy the FDA's pre-market notification procedures. Parents can expect to find new formulas containing DHA and ARA on store shelves by the end of 2001. |
A Real Difference Last year, scientists at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest in Dallas Texas, demonstrated a significant improvement in mental and visual development among healthy term infants fed formula supplemented with DHA and ARA. Fifty-six babies were fed one of three test formulas for 17 weeks, beginning within the first five days of life. One group (the control group) was fed standard infant formula, another received formula enriched with DHA, and the third group received formula enriched with both DHA and ARA. At 18 months of age, babies fed either of the formulas enriched with DHA showed a significant advantage in developmental age over those fed standard formula. They also maintained higher blood levels of DHA, indicating that this fat is well absorbed from formula. This observation confirmed results of an earlier study that showed no difference in the dynamics of fatty acid metabolism between breast-fed babies and those fed formula fortified with DHA and ARA. The greatest developmental benefit in the first month of life in the Retina Foundation study was seen among babies fed the formula enriched with both DHA and ARA. They showed a seven point increase on the Mental Development Index (MDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II, versus the control group. Infants fed the DHA-enriched formula also fared better than their formula-fed peers, enjoying a four point advantage in MDI. While the need for DHA continues throughout infancy, the need for ARA begins to diminish after the first six to eight weeks following birth. Most impressive is the fact that at eighteen months, the supplemented babies were still clearly ahead in developmental and cognitive skills, even though they were fed the fortified formula for only four months. This study supports others that have shown visual and IQ advantages for breast-fed babies over bottle fed infants. A women who is pregnant, lactating, or feeding an infant standard formula want to make sure their baby gets a good supply of DHA. This is so important that some experts recommend pregnant and nursing women supplement with DHA capsules. Until the new formulas are available, you can add the contents of a DHA capsule to one bottle of standard formula. More Than Nutrition Nurse your baby if you can. While the nutritional advantages are significant, breast-fed babies, and their moms, enjoy the one-on-one. Breast feeding is easy, convenient and economical; breast is always the right temperature, for example. A bonus for Mom? Breast-feeding helps your body shed excess fluids and tissue after birth. Also, breast-feeding tends to burn an extra 1,000 calories or so a day, helping women gradually lose those pounds they gained while pregnant. ARA for Infants Those familiar with nutrition may recognize ARA as the precursor of a certain class of hormone-like substances called PG-2 prostanoids that promote inflammation. If their diet contains too many saturated and trans fats (commonly found in processed and fast foods), people can become susceptible to the inflammatory cascade of ARA. However, ARA is converted into these inflammatory agents only when it escapes from its proper positioning within the cell membrane. This happens when eating the wrong fats causes fatty acid metabolism to become deranged. In newborns, ARA is the most plentiful LC-PUFA in nervous system tissues and dietary sources of this fat along with DHA are necessary for developing healthy cell membranes. |
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Copyright©, 2001 by The Zimmerman Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. |