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Metabolic acidosis and infant feeding
British Medical Journal
|January 15, 1977
Summary
Infant formula can cause metabolic acidosis due to higher acid load compared to breast milk. Adjusting formula pH may help prevent and treat this condition in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Infant Health
Background:
- Cow's milk-based infant formulas often have a higher acid load than breast milk.
- This difference in acid load may impact the acid-base balance in newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of different infant feeding types on acid-base status.
- To determine the relationship between feeding type and metabolic acidosis in term infants.
Main Methods:
- Measured acid-base status (pH, base deficit) in 180 healthy term infants on day six of life.
- Compared infants fed cow's milk formula (SMA) with those fed breast milk.
- Correlated feed pH with the degree of infant acidosis.
Main Results:
- Infants fed cow's milk formula showed a significantly lower mean pH and higher base deficit than breastfed infants.
- Metabolic acidosis (base deficit > 10 mmol/l) was more prevalent in bottle-fed infants (74%).
- A significant correlation was found between feed pH and infant acidosis.
Conclusions:
- Cow's milk formula contributes to a higher acid load, potentially causing metabolic acidosis in newborns.
- pH-adjusted infant formulas may be beneficial for preventing and treating neonatal metabolic acidosis when breast milk is unavailable.
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