A workshop took place in 1999 in regard to the essentiality and RDI's of the omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Thought it might be of interest. Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC http://www.issfal.org.uk/adequateintakes.htm "The Workshop on the Essentiality of and Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDI) for Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids was held at The Cloisters, National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, April 7-9, 1999. The workshop was sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism-NIH, the Office of Dietary Supplements-NIH, The Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, and the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids; and cosponsored by several industry groups. (BASF Corp., USA; BASF Health and Nutrition A/S; Bestfoods; ENRECO; F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd.; Groupe Danone; Kraft Foods, Inc.; Martek Biosciences Corporation; Mead Johnson Nutritionals; Ocean Nutrition Canada, Ltd.; OmegaTech, Inc.; Pronova Biocare; and Roche Vitamins, Inc.) The workshop participants consisted of investigators of the role of essential fatty acids in infant nutrition, cardiovascular disease, and mental health. The first two areas were selected because they are the ones where extensive studies involving animal models, clinical intervention trials, and biochemical and physiologic mechanisms and their function have been carried out relative to omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. The role of essential fatty acids in mental health is a new, but promising research area. The workshop was truly international in nature bringing together scientists from academia, government, international organizations, and industry, from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States. The first two days of the workshop consisted of presentations and extensive discussions. The format of the workshop was Round Table permitting extensive discussion following individual presentations and at the completion of each session..... One recommendation deserves explanation here. After much discussion consensus was reached on the importance of reducing the omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) even as the omega-3 PUFAs are increased in the diet of adults and newborns for optimal brain and cardiovascular health and function. This is necessary to reduce adverse effects of excesses of arachidonic acid and its eicosanoid products. Such excesses can occur when too much LA and AA are present in the diet and an adequate supply of dietary omega-3 fatty acids is not available. The adverse effects of too much arachidonic acid and its eicosanoids can be avoided by two interdependent dietary changes. First, the amount of plant oils rich in LA, the parent compound of the omega-6 class, which is converted to AA, needs to be reduced. Second, simultaneously the omega-3 PUFAs need to be increased in the diet. LA can be converted to arachidonic acid and the enzyme.... The Working Group endorsed the addition of the principal long chain polyunsaturates, AA and DHA, to all infant formulas. EPA is a natural constituent of breast milk, but in amounts more than 0.1% in infant formula may antagonize AA and interfere with infant growth." *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html