Protein intake during weaning. II. Metabolic responses

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutrition Science
• Metabolic Research

Background:

• Metabolic effects of infant feeding regimens during weaning are not well-documented.
• Optimal protein intake for infants transitioning from milk to solid foods requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the metabolic responses of healthy infants aged 4-6 months to human milk versus two infant formulas with differing protein concentrations during the weaning period.

Main Methods:

• Thirty healthy infants were divided into three groups: human milk, formula F1 (1.9 g protein/100 ml), and formula F2 (2.7 g protein/100 ml).
• Serum urea, albumin, and urinary creatinine and total nitrogen were measured at 4 and 6 months of age.
• All infants received the same supplementary foods and were fed ad libitum.

Main Results:

• Formula-fed infants exhibited significantly higher serum urea concentrations compared to breast-fed infants throughout the study (p < 0.001).
• Urinary creatinine and total nitrogen levels were significantly higher in formula-fed infants at 6 months but not at 4 months (p < 0.001).
• Serum albumin remained within normal limits for all groups, indicating adequate protein status.

Conclusions:

• Current infant formulas may provide excessive protein for infants during the weaning phase.
• Metabolic markers suggest that high protein content in formula can lead to altered protein metabolism in infants.
• Further research is needed to establish optimal protein requirements for weaning infants.