Quality and MCFA

Milk that is rich in medium-chain fatty acids is vital for the healthy growth and development of the child. For this reason, MCFA are added to most, if not all, baby formulas. Yet, these fatty acids are not exactly the same as those found naturally in mother's milk. At one time formula manufacturers used pure coconut or palm kernel oils and many brands still do. But MCT oil is used in some formulas. MCT oil is a product of industry containing 75 percent caprylic acid and 25 percent capric acid with little or no lauric acid—the most important antimicrobial MCFA. Lauric acid is also the most abundant MCFA found naturally in mother's milk. The ratio of lauric acid to other MCFA in coconut oil is similar to that in mother's milk. The reason MCT oil is used in place of the more expensive coconut oil is due to economics rather than concerns for health. Don't get me wrong, caprylic and capric acids are good, but not as good as lauric acid, and not as good as a combination of all three, as nature intended.

Just as the fatty acid content and quality of formula can be altered, so can human breast milk. Breast milk is, without question, the best choice of food for babies. Not all breast milk is the same however. The quality of the milk is influenced by the mother's health and diet. Breast milk is made from the nutrients the mother consumes. If she doesn't eat the right amount of nutrients, her body will pull them out of her own tissues. If the mother is deficient in these vital nutrients herself, then the milk she produces will also be deficient. Similarly, if she eats foods containing toxins (such as transfatty acids) her milk may contain them as well. Eating wisely is very important for pregnant and nursing women and their babies.

The mammary glands produce small amounts of all the medium-chain fatty acids, vital components in human breast milk. They are there because they are easy for an infant's immature digestive system to absorb and utilize. They help give the baby the nutrients and energy it needs to grow and develop properly. Because they also have antimicrobial properties they give the infant some degree of protection against viruses such as HIV and herpes, bacteria such a chlamydia and H. pyloris, fungi such as Candida and protozoa such as giardia.

Both animal and human studies have shown MCFA to be an important component in mother's milk for the proper growth and development of their offspring. For example, when pregnant and lactating pigs were fed diets containing either long-chain fatty acids (vegetable oil) or medium-chain fatty acids (coconut oil) there was a pronounced difference in the survival and growth rates. The piglets whose mothers received the MCFA grew faster and healthier and had a survival rate of 68% compared to 32%. This was particularly true with piglets which were born underweight.⁵