The role of fat in child nutrition
1980
Grande, Francisco
The high fat content of human milk (50% of calories) meets the high energy needs of the newborn and infant. Both children and adults are better able to absorb unsaturated and short-chain fatty acids. Because of the esterification of palmitic acid in the glycerides of human milk fat, human milk is better absorbed than cow's milk, especially in premature infants who commonly have problems in fat absorption. Human milk also contains lipase which helps the breastfed infant digest milk lipids. Essential fatty acid (EFA) requirements of infants and children are estimated at 3% of total energy intake. The EFA content of cow's milk, unlike breast milk, may not meet these estimated requirements, however, infants fed exclusively on cow's milk do not exhibit clinical EFA deficiency. Current interest in early prevention of atherosclerosis has drawn attention to plasma cholesterol levels in children. It is possible that levels in breastfed babies may be lowered by increasing the linoleic acid content of mothers' milk. (nzm)
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