Safety Issues With Omega-3 Infant Formulas

Omega-3 fatty acids are critical to the brain development of babies. Studies show that babies whose diets have an abundance of the long-chain omega-3 fats docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are more likely to have balanced attention spans and an overall edge in terms of their early childhood development. Since omega-3 fatty acids cannot be manufactured by the body, babies can only obtain their omega-3 fats from mother's milk, assuming that she has high levels of omega-3 fats in her body. Mothers who choose not to breastfeed their children purchase omega-3 enhanced infant formulas instead. However, a report from the Cornucopia Institute says that the omega-3 fats in infant formula may actually be toxic to babies.

The report, which has been forwarded to the US Breastfeeding Committee, says that infant formula manufacturers never used organic sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Instead, the infant formulas manufactured by Martek Biosciences Corporation were supplemented with artificially made oils called ARASCO and DHASCO. These products claimed to contain ARA and DHA respectively, but these artificial oils caused serious side effects like non-stop diarrhea, which can be fatal to infants. In fact, nurses from a hospital's neo-natal ward nicknamed the product "the diarrhea formula" after observing infants suffer from massive diarrhea after consuming the formula.

The best sources of omega-3s are from animals and plants that naturally contain them, like deep sea fish, flaxseed, evening primrose, and echium. ARASCO and DHASCO, on the other hand, are extracts from fermented fungus and algae. The extraction process involves the use of a neurotoxin called hexane, which are legions away from natural omega-3 fatty acids in terms of chemical structure and nutrient content. In fact, these artificial oils have never been recommended for infants. Although the omega-3 enhanced infant formulas have not been pulled off the shelves just yet, the National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy asked the FDA to place warning labels on these products to inform parents about their possible side effects.

Breastfeeding can be difficult and intimidating, especially for new mothers, but this is still the best way for babies to obtain the important nutrients they need for their health and development. If you plan on breastfeeding your child, make sure you stay well-nourished yourself. Eat lots of green vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, fish, nuts, and keep the junk food and processed foods to a minimum. Ideally, you should obtain all the nutrients you and your baby need with these healthy food choices. If you are not confident about the nutritional quality of your food, supplement your diet with a regular multivitamin that meets your recommended daily requirements. Make it a habit to consume an omega-3 fish oil capsule or its vegetarian equivalent as well.