>
>     Dear Kathy,
>
>     This is in response to the message that you forwarded from a
>     correspondent on the LactNet about a "full page ad offering a free
>     videotape about DHA and how "...moms get DHA through their diet but the
>     breast milk of American mothers typically provides only 1/2 to 2/3 of
>     the minimum DHA recommended by the WHO/FAO Expert Panel..."  This "New
>     Findings" video is from Martek Biosciences, maker of Neuromins (tm) PL,
>     a DHA nutritional supplement."
>
>     Notwithstanding the difficulty in commenting, even summarily, on the
>     basis of incomplete information, the initial minimal observation from
>     WHO's Programme of Nutrition is one of surprise. In fact, as the
>     report of the joint FAO/WHO expert consultation on fats and oils in
>     human nutrition (Rome, 19-26 October 1993) makes *very* clear, breast
>     milk is the "gold standard" where any discussion of docosahexaenoic
>     acid (DHA) and infant nutrition is concerned.
>
>     Thus, when referring to infant formula, the consultation concluded
>     that "it would seem proper to provide both arachidonic acid and DHA
>     preformed in term infant formula milks in similar proportions to
>     breast milk" (p. 54 of the report of the consultation). Moreover, as
>     the consultation noted, "the burden of proof should be placed on those
>     proposing that artificial milk should, in principle, be dissimilar to
>     breast milk" (ibid.).
>
>     Another point worth pondering in this context concerns the specificity
>     of breast milk and the still-unlocked mysteries of this medium which
>     affect the way *any* of its components operates and interacts. Iron is
>     perhaps one of the more egregious examples in this connection. Thus,
>     the assumption that DHA in infant formula should mimic that proportion
>     found in breast milk no doubt requires additional investigation.
>
>     We hope that this helps to clarify matters.
>
>     James Akre (Mr)
>     Technical Officer
>     Programme of Nutrition
>     World Health Organization
>     Geneva, Switzerland
>
>
>
Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology and Nutrition
Texas A&M University