Karleen, the direct correlation between fats in and fats out in 
breastmilk isn't concentration, but types and qualities of fats.  The 
types and quality of fats ingested, reflects the composition of the fats 
in the milk.  Some specific fats, such as the omega3s, are crucial to 
brain, eye and nerve tissue development in the infant, and if the mother 
isn't ingesting them (or appropriate pre-cursors) the baby will suffer 
the lack accordingly.  
http://www.007b.com/breastfeeding_intelligence_diet.php    (references 
at the bottom is what I'm posting - although there is a load of newer 
stuff, but I can't find it right now)

And whilst it's clear from mammalian herd experiments that a low fat 
diet still produces the approporiate levels of raw fats in milk, it's 
also clear that in a fat free diet, fat levels in milk drops, as does 
supply.  (Although given that herds are over producing as standard, I'd 
hesitate to make the correlation on human supply dropping in extremely 
low fat diets.)  Mothers eating habits also alter, interestingly enough, 
to try and eat more, even if it's only fat that's been reduced, not 
volume of food.  There are some fats present in milk from animals on 
completely fat free diets, as carbohydrates are harvested to make up the 
loss, but fat levels do drop, and rise again instantly when fat is added 
back into the diet.  It is a marvel how low the fat intake can be, and 
appropriate levels still appear in the milk - as ever, the maternal body 
does all it can to protct the infant, and in extremely low fat intakes, 
the blood lipids in the mother will start to drop in order to keep the 
milk ratios up.  But the research does show that no fat in the diet at 
all, does drop the fat levels in milk.  (All animal research as, 
clearly, it wouldn't be ethical in humans.  If you want, I can post 
several dull and boring references on playing around with fat intake on 
cows, goats, deer and hares!  Or just google.)

It's the combination of both these factors - reduction in raw fats and 
lack of appropriate fats - that, in my eyes, signals the need to be 
concerned about any exclusively breastfed infant of a totally fat free 
mother.  And as I said, that means both no body fat reserves to work 
from, and absolutely no fat in the diet.  Fats are an essential element 
of human nutrition, and simply cannot be removed from the diet without 
serious consequence.  A women with no fats in her diet is simply not 
producing some of the essential fatty acids the baby needs:  
http://wwwchem.csustan.edu/chem4400/SJBR/polet.pdf

The WHO reccomends that minimum fat intake required for women of 
reproductive age is 20% of calorific intake.  Breastmilk supplies 
between 50 and 60% of it's calories through fat.  Up to the age of about 
2, a human infant requires that between 30 and 40% if it's calorific 
intakes is from fats.   This is the minimum to prevent ill health 
developing.

http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/T4660T/T4660T02.HTM

This isn't the first time I've discussed this on LactNet, and every time 
I talk about it, there is a general sort "But breastmilk is always 
enough even in the most extreme of circumstances" reaction, which in the 
vast proprotion of circumstances, is true.  However, the fact that we 
are discussing deliberate avoidance of a vital food group, is the 
issue.  Recognising that there may be highly specific problems in 
severely anorexic women doesn't negate the vastly superior nature of 
breastmilk over substitutes, neither does it negate the wonder of how 
much human milk can do even in the most extreme of disasters.  It does 
however say that it's potentially very damaging to remove an essential 
element of human nutrition entirely from your diet, especially if you're 
breastfeeding, and any exclusively breastfed infant of a mother with no 
fat in her at all, requires extra vigilance.

Hope this explains my thoughts more thoroughly....

Morgan Gallagher

Karleen Gribble wrote:
> Is it the case that breastmilk fat concentration is related to maternal
> dietary fat?? I didn't think so (though may well have missed this piece of
> information). Can someone point me in the direction of the research?
> Karleen Gribble
> Australia
>
>   
>> The information about the crucial nature of fats in infant development
>> is both standard, and uncontested.  As is the dynamic that mothers must
>> ingest adequate fats in order to produce fats in her breastmilk.  No
>> studies could possibly take place in order to examine the effect of
>> nutritional deficit in human milk with mothers with severe eating
>> disorders, as it would be unethical to conduct them.
>>
>>     

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