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Thu, 13 Apr 2000 19:54:10 +0000 |
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Dear All,
In our local paper recently was almost a full page spread on postpartum
depression, what it is and possible causes. One of the causes put forth
as a possibility was a study out of Harvard University and National
Institues of Health last year that found a strong correlation between
depression and levels of docosahesaenoic acid (DHA), which is linked to
eye and brain development. The article goes on to state that during the
3rd trimester, the placenta depletes the mother's stores of DHA and
passes them on to the fetus. And breastfeeding significantly lowers the
mother's DHA levels. "The baby is literally zapping the mother's
supply", according to Mary Van Elswyk, director of scientific affairs at
OmegaTech INc., a Colorado biotech company developing technologies to
enrich foods with DHA.
I had a concerned breastfeeding Mom call me to ask if breastfeeding puts
Mom at further risk from this DHA depletion, and if so, what should we
be advising Moms to eat to replace this? I told her I didn't have the
answer, but would ask a few of my Learned Friends.
Thanks to all,
Rebecca Garcia, RNC,IBCLC
Walla Walla,Washington
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