I sent Valerie's post to Mary Enig, a nutritionist and biochemist, regarding
Prof. Holub's quote regarding trans fat consumption in Canada.  Her response
is below.

Judy Ritchie

 

Excerpt from
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20031028/UTRAN28

However, what has some researchers really worried are the long-term
consequences of a generation raised on trans fats. It's even getting into
breast milk through mothers' diets.

 

"Unfortunately, one of the richest sources of trans in the Canadian food
supply is mothers' milk," Prof. Holub said. On average, 7 per cent of the
fat in breast milk is made up of trans -- though, in some women, it has been
measured to be as high as 17 per cent. As trans goes up in breast milk, the
amount of other fats go down. One of those essential fats is alpha linolenic
acid, which the body converts into DHA, essential for brain and eye
development.

 

****************************************************************************
*****************

 

Her reply:

I too have been concerned for more than 20 years about the adverse effects
of trans fatty acids in breast milk. Professor Bruce Holub is anything but
inflammatory in his views.  He is also concerned because he knows that trans
causes visual acuity problems in infants who consume it.

 

I had a conversation about a decade ago (when I was still at the university)
with one of the lactation specialists about the problem of trans in the
diets of nursing mothers, and how the mothers should be warned to stay away
from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils; her response was that the
LaLeche League did not want to put out any warning that would deter mothers
from breast feeding.

 

There are a number of ailments such as immune disfunction showing up in
children because of the trans in their diets.  A number of research papers
have been published.

 

Mary Enig


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