In the health section of today's (4 March 97) Washington Post, there is
an article titled "Scientists Debate Change in Infant Formula", about
the possible addition of DHA to formula.

Here is the URL for those wanting to read the entire article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-03/04/018L-030497-idx.html

My "favorite" paragraph is below...

"Secondly, 'breast milk is a liquid designed to nourish babies and to
some degree to protect the mothers against malnutrition,' he said
[Ronald Kleinman, associate prof of peds at Harvard]. That is, its
composition is a compromise between the infant's needs and the mother's.
'It's evolved in such a way as to protect the mother [against being
drained of food]. When you look at some of the nutrients in breast milk
[such as zinc, selenium, iron], they're present in very low levels. . .
. It's possible that the baby got those from crawling around in the
dirt.' So babies might actually need more nutrients than breast milk
provides."

That last sentence is the author's, not the pediatrician's, BTW.

For crying out loud.  I don't usually write letters (don't have the
time) but I just might have to on this one.

Kathy Koch, LLL Leader
Alexandria, VA
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