<<<If you add artificial DHA to an adult diet, would it then get passed to the child via placenta or milk in preference to mother made DHA? Would that make a difference to the child?>>> As I understand it, the fats in breastmilk vary with the mother's diet. If the mother has a diet rich in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFAS), her milk will be similarly rich. The "fats" researchers here advise breastfeeding mothers to eat fish or fish oils a couple of times a week to give their babies the best fatblend breastmilk for the best brain development. Maybe the DHA capsules or whatever will do the same in a less natural way. However, cod liver oil capsules may be just as good and cheaper. Do they still use them in Scotland Mary? I understand that in Australia the DHA supplement will come out in a capsule form, one to be added to a day's supply of formula. I think the problem is it does not have a good shelf life pre-mixed into formula. Like Jon, I support giving non-breastfed babies all the help they can get. This is just one ingredient of formula improved, there are THOUSANDS to go before they get close to breastmilk. Then there is the problem of the bioavailability of added components, and their interaction with other ingredients. The early work with LC PUFAs showed better brain development, but at the expense of overall growth. I think they have overcome this problem, but who knows what other effect it will have, now or in 20 year's time. Eat fish and breastfeed, don't mess with nature. Ros Escott [log in to unmask]