Morgan has asked about resources that look at problems with Martek's DHA/ARA fat blend. The best summary of this is in a publication entitled, "Replacing mother-imitating human breast milk in the laboratory" from the Cornucopia Institute. The publication can be read and downloaded free from www.cornucopia.org. As a contributor to this publication I find it is probably the best summary of the issue and the side effects some babies experience. The Cornucopia Institute and NABA (me) jointly filed a petition with the US Food and Drug Administration to put a warning label on formula with these ingredients regarding the side effects some babies experience from consuming the supplemented formula. Two articles from the Cochrane Database state that these fatty acids do not provide any advantages for babies who consume them:


Simmer K, Patole S, Rao S. Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infants born at term. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Jan 23;(1):CD000376. 

Simmer K, Schulzke S, Patole S. Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Jan 23;(1):CD000375. 

Martek's oils are not covered under the Code. However, some of Martek's marketing language can appear as if they are positioning infant formula with their oils as being equivalent to breastmilk. Having Martek as an exhibitor seems inconsistent with the theme of the conference, 'Midwifery: A Worldwide Commitment to Women and the Newborn.’ Our commitment should be to improve breastfeeding care and services not provide a forum for industries seeking to profit from babies who are not breastfed.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA



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