On Sun, 1 Nov 1998 22:04:08 -0600, Peter Brandt <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >Amadeus?: >>>Human baby's are not dependent on DHA/EPA in the food. > >Dr. Michael A. Schmidt in his book "Smart Fats" states that DHA is crucial >for the full development of the infant brain. A paragraph in the book is >called "Caution for Vegetarian Mothers": > >"Vegetarian mothers must be especially aware that they get adequate DHA >during pregnancy and while breast feeding, since vegans and vegetarians >have been shown to have significantly lower DHA in breast milk. This seems to clear up the question if DHA was in breast milk - as opposed to the analysis in the USDA database. If USDA-tested mil k didn't contain it (and they probably didn't test only vegetarian women), then missing DHA might be a common problem - or - it's not really a problem as Dr.Schmidt supposes. > Their >babies also show lower DHA. For example, Australian and British babies fed >milk from omnivore mothers have about six percent DHA in the red blood >cells. American infants have about three percent. British infants fed >milk from vegetarian mothers have only two percent DHA in their cells. Interesting numbers. British vegetarian mothers' babies seem to have about the same DHA (2%) as American omnivores' babies (3%). There must be a factor that is much more relevant than beeing vegetarian - and this factor can be found between british and american nutrition. I guess it's *not* eating brains. In GB eating brains is a no-no since many years, because of a ban and the BSE-risks. >Us ing flax seed oil as a source of alpha-linolenic acid has been used by >many vegetarian mothers in hopes of increasing their DHA levels. However, >conversion of ALA to DHA appears to be insufficient for a pregnant or >nursing mother." I know a lot of vegetarians and few of them like flax oil - because of its taste. Most eat much of dairy and dairy fats. Many misuse fats like sunflower oil for cooking. If someone buys a small flax oil bottle he or she feels fine about beeing so health-conscious, but compared to the all-over fat intake its peanuts. Same thing like hardly anyone here seems to like brain, isn't it? >Best, Peter regards Amadeus (yes it's my name, not a nick has nothing to do with my music performance skills - more with my father's whishes on that :-) )