Omega-3 milk

Abstract

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is important constituent in human breast milk. Omega-3-fatty acid (n-3-FA) plays an important role in infants post birth development; omega-3-fatty acids are obtained from breast milk. Traditionally, cattle grazed in the field and get some omega-3 fatty acid from the green pastures. However, now, they are fed with defined diet solely for getting high milk yield, which resulted in deficiency in omega-3 fatty acid in milk. Various attempts have been made to fortify food products with omega-3 fatty acid. Fortification of food with n-3-FA may offer an effective way of increasing omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes. Recent data indicate that blend of dairy lipids and omega-3-fatty acid from vegetarian oil, can potentiate higher levels of n-3 LC-PUFA levels endogenously. Enriching cattle milk by feeding omega-3-rich cattle feed is also not straight forward. Biofortification is not possible and is met with a biological hurdle in the cattle, as they are ruminants. Several attempts have been made to fortify milk with omega-3 fatty acid or preparation of omega-3-fortified formula milk for infants. Further this chapter reviews crucial role of omega-3-milk in human health especially in mother and child health.