Acceptability, tolerance, and nutritional value of a rice-based infant formula

An infant formula based on high protein rice flour, with added lysine and threonine, was evaluated in recovering malnourished infants. Acceptability, tolerance, and the digestibility of most major nutrients (energy 93.9 +/- 0.7%, fat 96.9 +/- 0.3%, carbohydrate 96.8 +/- 0.6% of intake) were excellent. Digestibility of protein, as with all rice products, was moderately low (80.1 +/- 3.3%), but its high biological value made N retention equal to that from casein. Plasma-free amino acids were consistent with the low essential/total amino acids ratio found in cereals, with slower absorption, and with the possibility that leucine was the first-limiting amino acid. Absorptions of Ca, Mg, PO4, and Zn were considered satisfactory. Energy costs of weight gain and the estimated percentage N in the weight gained during 14 days were comparable to those attained with the highest quality cow's milk-derived formulas in children of similar ages and nutritional status.