Study Shows DHA Enrichment of Human Breast Milk From Functional Food

According to a recent study, nursing mothers' breast milk can be enriched significantly with the essential nutrient DHA in a matter of days using functional foods. The study was conducted by Dr. Margaret Craig-Schmidt, professor of Nutrition and Food Science at Auburn University​. The results of the study were announced at the annual meeting of the Institute for Food Technologists. The study showed that lactating women who ate DHA-enriched eggs increased the level of DHA in their milk to the level recommended by a panel of experts for infant formula fortification. The eggs are enriched using a natural vegetarian source of DHA Omega-3 fatty acid, DHA GOLD, produced by OmegaTech​, an American R&D company working on natural bioactive ingredients for use in functional foods, infant and early childhood nutrition products. The study documented the experiences of lactating women who consumed 300 mg/d from DHA GOLD contained in eggs. Women who ate two DHA-enriched eggs a day doubled the amount of DHA in their breast milk in just four days and maintained this level of DHA as long as they continued to eat the DHA-rich eggs daily. DHA has been shown to enhance human cognitive and visual development when provided as part of specially designed infant formulas. "The results of this study are a significant milestone for the DHA Omega-3 functional food market,"​ said Dr. Mary Van Elswyk, vice president of scientific affairs for OmegaTech. "The benefits seen after only four days of supplementation were substantial, which means a nursing mother can enrich her milk and pass along better nutrition to her infant in less than a week."​ Source: OmegaTech​