On Thu, 8 Apr 1999, Nieft / Secola wrote:

> I suspect very few western mothers eat either brains or marrow. Which
> leaves the probability that, especially under lactation and probably
> pregnancy, human females are quite adept at "synthesizing" EPA and DHA.
> Otherwise where could it come from in lactating women with a
> EPA/DHA-deficient diet--which would be most of them I'd guess.

All of us, not just lactating women, make EPA and DHA from ALA.
But if even ALA is scarce in the diet, then there is a problem. I
think w-3 deficiency in absolute terms is rare; the problem is
w-6 excess.  This causes health problems, but it shouldn't
prevent lactating women from getting EPA and DHA into their milk.

Todd Moody
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