Does breast milk contain DHA & ARA?
Breast milk naturally contains DHA and ARA, whereas cow or goat milk does not. The levels of DHA and ARA in breast milk will vary depending upon the mother’s diet. Therefore, pregnant and lactating women may benefit from a DHA supplement if their normal diet is lacking in good sources of omega-3. Mothers begin providing DHA and ARA for their fetus during pregnancy and continue after the baby’s birth through breast milk. During the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus begins to utilize DHA more rapidly for the nervous system, brain, and eye retinal development. As these tissues are forming, the demand for DHA increases, depleting a woman’s own body stores of DHA. Breast fed babies are able to receive DHA and ARA from breast milk. However, the availability of the fatty acids for a baby is dependent upon the lactating mother’s diet. Studies show that in cultures where oily fish consumption is high, breast fed babies have higher levels of circulating DHA. The typical Western diet is de
