Dear Fellow Lactnetters:

In reading the posts recently about plugged ducts, the omega-3-fatty acid
neuron fired up in my brain (this neuron fires up occasionally because I
think this topic is so fascinating and because I think that the level of
these fatty acids in our diet is too low and the source of many of our
problems).  This is some fairly wild conjecturing, but here goes any
way......

I wonder if the recurrent plugs are caused by some type of inflammatory
process.  Omega-6 fatty acids are precursers to inflammation-causing
substances in the body.  (these are the fats in vegetable oils and in grains)
Omega-3 fatty acids are precursers to anti-inflammation-causing substances in
the body.  At the turn of the century, our diet contained roughly equal
amounts of these two types of fatty acids.  So.... there would be a "balance"
of the inflammation and anti-inflammation causing substances in the body.
 Currently, our diet is heavily weighted toward Omega-6 fatty acids
(something like 50:1, if I remember correctly).  Sooooooooooooooooooooo, I
wonder if increasing the omega-3 fatty acids would help.  Perhaps some of you
with more biochemistry understanding would comment on this.

If you do wish to pursue Omega-3 increases, I would suggest food sources such
as white albacore tuna (water packed), salmon, herring, sardines and flax
seed.

Just my thoughts on the subject (and another theory to rattle around).

Martha Brower RD LD IBCLC (trivial thoughts extraordinaire!)