 In this study, researchers investigated how dietary fatty acids, fars, during pregnancy and lactation could influence the growth and development of offspring. They found that the fars in breast milk are dependent on the mother's diet and that these fars can have a significant impact on the development of the offspring. Specifically, they observed that the mothers who consumed a diet rich in medium chain fars had lower levels of linoleic acid, LA, in their breast milk, while those consuming a diet rich in N3 long chain polyunsaturated fars, L-C-P-U-F-As, at higher levels of docosahexinoic acid, DHA. The researchers also noted that the offspring of these mothers showed differences in their body composition, as well as in their cognitive abilities. This suggests that the fars in breast milk can play a role in shaping the developmental trajectory of the offspring. This article was authored by Anne-Marie Oosting, Hengchen J. Vercade, Diane Kegler, and others.