Joyce writes that a hospital nurse where she works
informed her "that the formula companies have added
DHA because breastmilk doesn't have sufficient amounts
for babies.”

Outrageous!  One thing to consider rather than
tackling the issue of the **correct** amount of DHA is
to tackle the issue of the **correct** **formula**.
Researchers are just beginning to study DHA, many
other related variables have yet to be understood, and
human milk remains the gold standard after millions of
years of development and testing in a wide variation
of populations.  We just need to market it a little
better for contemporary users .  . .

As with **pollutants** in women’s milk, the more
appropriate response to deficiencies (once proved)
would be to alter diet, environment or management to
return the milk to its **normal** composition.  The
first question, or course, is to define ** normal.**

The current question, as I understand it, is about
understanding the reasons behind different DHA levels
rather than assuming “more is better.”  Similar
questions have come up with regard to iron, Vitamin D,
etc.

Interesting article in JHL a couple years ago.  I’ll
pull the reference later.  I vaguely remember question
about a funding source for that study (supplement
manufacturer).

I’ll stick with the “Gold Standard” argument, myself.
It has lasted me ten years so far, and I suspect it
will last my lifetime and my daughter’s and her
daughter’s.....  Bf advocates in this format and
others remind us to study marketing techniques that
work.  One I’ve noticed is repeating a catch phrase.
One that resonates.  Accepting and revering human milk
as the unquestionable standard for our species will
undoubtedly last through generations of god-like
behavior to come, as we attempt to reinvent the human
animal.

Arrogance rarely enhances knowledge.

Apologies (or maybe not…) for my own arrogance.

Susan Johnson  MFA, IBCLC
Salt Lake City, USA


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