Fish Oil & Nursing

Fish oil contains essential fatty acids that provide numerous health benefits. The active ingredients in fish oil are eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. These omega-3 fatty acids perform important functions in the operation of the brain as well as in metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory and immune system functioning. They also play an important part in normal growth and development. Your body can't synthesize them, so you must obtain them in the foods you eat or by supplementation. Nursing mothers benefit personally from EPA and DHA and also pass on benefits to their nursing child.

Diet

People need fatty acids in their diet. Different types of fatty acids promote different actions within your body. Though people benefit from obtaining a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, Western diets tend to provide a surfeit of omega-6 fatty acids. Americans typically consume 14 to 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This imbalance favors the expression of proinflammatory immune system responses: Your immune system is easily provoked into creating inflammation. You can restore the balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and reduce inflammatory responses by reducing your consumption of vegetable oils and by eating cold-water fish, such as tuna, cod, salmon, bluefish, herring and trout, two to three times per week. However, if you are nursing, avoid eating too much fish, as fish meat can contain levels of mercury that are safe for adults but potentially toxic for infants. Good-quality fish oil, on the other hand, can provide omega-3 fatty acids untainted by mercury.

Benefits of Fish Oil for Adults

Fish oil can lower cholesterol, reduce high blood pressure and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease; colon, breast and prostate cancer; macular degeneration; and osteoporosis. It also might reduce the severity of the symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and menstrual pain, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Potential Benefits of Fish Oil for Nursing Infants

Dr. William Sears notes that the human brain triples in size during the first year of life. During this period of rapid development, the brain needs significant amounts of fatty acids. Fats are a major constituent of the cell membranes and the myelin sheaths that surround each nerve. Infants with low amounts of DHA have slowed brain development and diminished visual acuity. Cultures with high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet -- such as Eskimos who eat a great amount of fish -- have a lower rate of degenerative central nervous system diseases, according to Sears.

Research

While studies such as the ones published in the 1995 "British Journal of Nutrition" and the June 2005 "Allergy and Clinical Immunology" have found benefits of fish oil supplementation during pregnancy, few studies have evaluated the effects of fish oil supplementation while breastfeeding. One 2004 study published in "Lipids" did find that breastfed infants of mothers who supplemented with fish oil did not have enhanced visual acuity immediately but had better visual acuity at 4 months of age. The authors suggested that the increased availability of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids -- omega-3 fatty acids -- may influence visual maturation.

Recommendations

Consult with your pediatrician before supplementing with fish oil while nursing. Choose fish oil supplements from reputable manufacturers. Check the box and label to ensure that the oil has been purified and evaluated for toxins. MedlinePlus indicates that supplementing with 3 g or less of fish oil per day is likely safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.