|
Their research appears in the current issue of the journal Maternal and Child Nutrition. The study compared breast milk fatty acid composition in U.S. andTsimane women. The Tsimane live in Amazonian Bolivia, and eat adiet consisting primarily of locally grown staple crops, wild game,and freshwater fish. Samples of Tsimane mothers' milk containedsignificantly higher percentages of the omega-3 fatty aciddocosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is crucial for infant cognitiveand visual development. Additionally, the percentages of DHA in breast milk did notsignificantly decrease across the first two years postpartum, theperiod during which infant brains experience peak growth andmaximal uptake of DHA. This was also true for the U.S. women, andthe study suggests that extended breastfeeding by both U.S. andTsimane mothers may provide infants with a constant source of DHAduring the critical period of brain development. "The fatty acid composition of breast milk varies with thefatty acid composition of a mother's diet and fat stores. Ancestralhumans likely consumed omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in equalproportions," said Melanie Martin, a doctoral student inUCSB's Department of Anthropology, and the study's lead researcher."Tsimane mothers' omega-6 to omega-3 ratios were four to one,much closer to the ancestral estimates than observed in U.S.women." Unfortunately, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in industrializeddiets varies from 10 to 1 to as high as 20 to 1. This is mostlikely due to the absence of fresh fish, and regular consumption ofprocessed foods and vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid (anomega-6), as well as trans fats. These high levels of omega-6 havebeen linked to increased risks of obesity, inflammation, andcardiovascular disease, and interfere with the synthesis of DHA andother omega-3 fatty acids. "The Tsimane mothers' average milk DHA percentage was 400percent higher than that of the Cincinnati mothers, while theiraverage percentages of linoleic and trans fatty acids were 84percent and 260 percent lower, respectively," said Martin."Despite living in economically impoverished conditions,Tsimane mothers produce breast milk that has more balanced andpotentially beneficial fatty acid composition as compared to milkfrom U.S. mothers." The study comes in the wake of the May 21 issue of Time magazine,which reignited debate over the appropriate age at which a childshould top nursing. "Buzz about the recent Time magazine covermissed the point," noted Steven Gaulin, professor ofanthropology at UCSB, and one of the study's co-authors. "TheAmerican diet is eroding one of the most important benefits breastmilk can provide -- fats that are critical to infant braindevelopment. It's not surprising that, among developed nations,American children are last on international tests of math andscience." The study's findings highlight important questions about infantformula, the fatty acid content of which is based on the breastmilk of U.S. mothers. "The study suggests that standards offatty acid composition for infant formulas should be derived frompopulations such as the Tsimane," Martin explained. "Andnutritional recommendations for infants should account for theprolonged requirements of fatty acids that breast milk naturallyprovides." Also contributing to the study was Michael Gurven, professor ofanthropology at UCSB. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Liposuction Slimming Machine , Elight Machine for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Laser Tattoo Removal Machine.
Related Articles -
Liposuction Slimming Machine, Elight Machine,
|
