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Nutritional evaluation of various protein hydrolysate formulae in term infants during the first month of life
1Department of Neonatology, University of Liège, Hôpital de la Citadelle, Belgium.
Insights
Infant formula composition impacts growth and protein metabolism. Whey hydrolysate formulas WHF 1 and WHF 2 supported growth similar to human milk, while others showed varied effects on infant development and plasma amino acids.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Infant nutrition is critical for early development.
- Different infant formulas have varying protein sources and compositions.
- Understanding formula impact on growth and metabolism is essential for infant health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare growth parameters, protein metabolism, and plasma amino acid profiles in newborns fed human milk versus various hydrolysate infant formulas.
- To evaluate the impact of whey hydrolysate formula (WHF), soy-collagen hydrolysate formula (SCHF), and whey-casein hydrolysate formula (WCHF) on infant development.
- To assess how different formula protein compositions influence biochemical indices and amino acid concentrations.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving newborn infants fed human milk or one of five different infant formulas for the first month of life.
- Measurement of growth parameters (weight, length, head circumference).
- Analysis of biochemical indices (serum total protein, blood urea nitrogen, transferrin, IgG) and plasma amino acid concentrations.
Main Results:
- Whey hydrolysate formulas WHF 1 and WHF 2 supported growth and protein parameters comparable to human milk.
- WHF 3, SCHF, and WCHF showed significant reductions in certain growth parameters and altered protein concentrations compared to human milk.
- Plasma amino acid patterns varied significantly, reflecting the specific amino acid content of each formula, with WCHF showing a profile closest to human milk.
Conclusions:
- The composition of infant formula, particularly the protein source, significantly influences neonatal growth and metabolic parameters.
- Certain whey hydrolysate formulas (WHF 1, WHF 2) appear to be well-tolerated and support growth similarly to human milk.
- Formula-induced alterations in plasma amino acid profiles highlight the importance of careful formulation for optimal infant nutrition.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to compare, during the first month of life, growth parameters, biochemical indices of protein metabolism and plasma amino acid concentrations in newborn infants fed either human milk (n = 23), three different whey hydrolysate formulae (WHF 1, n = 13; WHF 2, n = 10; WHF 3, n = 13), a soy-collagen hydrolysate formula (SCHF n = 18) or a whey-casein hydrolysate formula (WCHF, n = 20). Growth parameters and the various protein concentrations determined in the infants fed WHF 1 and WHF 2 were similar to the values observed with human milk. With WHF 3, growth in weight, length and head circumference and serum total protein concentrations were reduced significantly whereas blood urea nitrogen was increased. With SCHF, growth in weight and length as well as serum total protein and transferrin concentration were decreased significantly, whereas serum IgG concentration was increased. With WCHF growth in length and serum transferrin concentration were decreased compared to the human milk group. In the various groups, the plasma amino acid pattern reflected the amino acid content of the formula. Whey hydrolysate formula induced mainly an increase in threonine and a decrease in tyrosine concentrations. Soy-collagen hydrolysate formula led to an increase of non-essential amino acids, such as glycine and hydroxyproline, and a decrease in plasma lysine and cystine. Whey-casein hydrolysate formula induced a plasma amino acid pattern close to the profile observed with human milk. Nevertheless, the plasma concentrations of most of the various amino acids were higher.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)