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Wed, 20 Sep 2000

JP/Mother's milk, the best source of docosahexaenoic acid for babies

Mother's milk, the best source of docosahexaenoic acid for babies

Question:

Dear Dr. Donya,

1. Does frequent use of antibiotics weaken a child's immunity system?

2. Are nasal aspirators safe to be used on small kids when they get phlegm in their nostrils?

3. Nowadays, almost all baby food items from milk powder to bread advertise that they contain DHA and EFA, saying they will improve brain development. How effective are they really?

Thank you,

Vidya Soundar

Answer:

1. The role of antibiotics is to rid the body of bacteria. The problem is, antibiotics can't differentiate between good bacteria like staphylococcal (located in the nose and fighter of bad bacteria) from a bad bacteria (pathogens). So, frequent use of antibiotics has an indirect effect on the immune system; the result being that the child may get infections easier.

2. How small is the child? If you know how to use the aspirator, which means control how deep to insert inside the nose and how much pressure to suck out the phlegm, it helps small infants because decongestants are not recommended for children under two years of age. For babies and infants, it may be safer to use a cotton bud (q-tip) soaked in warm water and just clean the nose externally if you are not trained to use a nasal aspirator.

3. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is fatty acid present in human breast milk. DHA is known to play a role in the development of the nervous system, brain and retina function. Because of this, DHA is being added to formula milk throughout Asia and Europe. The NICHD (US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) is still testing DHA to determine its effect on intelligence. The best source for children to get DHA is in mother's milk and foods such as tuna, salmon, trout, marine oil or fish oil.

EFA is "essential fatty acid" and comprises linoleic acid and linolenic acid. DHA can be produced by liver from linoleic to DHA, but in newborn and infants, their liver is not mature enough to make DHA from linoleic acid, then the source should be from breast milk and foods.

Dr. Donya Betancourt