Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Infant Nutrition

Breast milk is still the best source infant feeding. It comes with many obvious advantages to the infant. Benefits of breast feeding known to most include its ability to provide unique quality of nutrients along with immunity, certain enzymes and vitamins. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are one of the most important components in breast milk. Benefits of these fatty acids found to be numerous including, brain development during its growth spurt in last trimester of pregnancy and infancy, retinal development and visual acuity. They also increase insulin receptors sensitivity to insulin and prevention of type II diabetes mellitus. High intake of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy may increase birth weight, gestational age and length. Conclusion: Adequate supply of LCPUFAs to the mother during pregnancy and lactation is an important for adequate LCPUFAs supply to the foetus and infant. Infant formulas with LA and ALA only is not sufficient for infant’s requirements of LCPUFAs as the process of their transformation to their LCPUFAs is not sufficient.