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Antigen-reduced infant formulas versus human milk: growth and metabolic parameters in the first 6 months of life
M Giovannini1, C Agostoni, A Fiocchi
15th Department of Pediatrics, University of Milan, Ospedale San Paolo, Italy.
Insights
Special formulas, particularly high-degree protein hydrolysates, require careful evaluation for prolonged use in healthy infants at risk of atopy, as they may affect growth and metabolic parameters compared to breast milk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Allergy Prevention
- Infant Metabolism
Background:
- Infants with a family history of IgE-mediated diseases are at higher risk for atopy.
- Nutritional interventions, including specialized formulas, are explored for atopy prevention.
- Understanding the impact of different formulas on infant growth and metabolism is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the growth and metabolic parameters of infants fed specialized formulas versus breast milk.
- To assess the effectiveness of different formulas in atopy prevention.
- To evaluate the long-term effects of specialized formulas on infant development.
Main Methods:
- A 6-month nutritional follow-up of 82 infants at risk for atopy.
- Infants were fed human milk (HM), soy formula (SF), whey-based low-degree hydrolysate (WHy), casein-based high-degree hydrolysate (CHy), or a soy plus collagen-based high-degree hydrolysate.
- Anthropometric indices and hematochemical parameters were measured at specified intervals.
Main Results:
- The casein-based high-degree hydrolysate (CHy) group showed lower body mass index and higher blood urea nitrogen at 3 months.
- Formula-fed infants had higher essential amino acid/total amino acid ratios but lower branched-chain amino acid/essential amino acid ratios compared to the HM group.
- Differences in metabolic markers suggest varying impacts of different formula types.
Conclusions:
- Specialized formulas, especially high-degree protein hydrolysates, warrant careful consideration for extended use in healthy infants with a familial risk of atopy.
- Prolonged use of certain formulas may influence infant growth and metabolic profiles.
- Further evaluation is needed to determine the optimal nutritional strategies for atopy prevention.
Objective:
To compare growth and metabolic parameters of infants fed special formulas for atopy prevention to breast-fed infants.
Methods:
Eighty-two infants with family history of IgE-mediated diseases completed a 6-month nutritional follow-up within a clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of the dietary intervention in preventing atopy. Infants were subdivided according to the type of milk feeding from the end of the first month of life up to sixth month: human milk (HM) group (29 infants); soy formula (SF) group (15 infants); whey-based low-degree hydrolysate (WHy) group (15 infants); casein-based high-degree hydrolysate (CHy) group (13 infants); soy plus collagen-based high-degree hydrolysate group (10 infants). Anthropometric indices were determined at 0, 3 and 6 months of life and a fasting blood sample for hematochemical parameters was obtained at 5 months of life before beginning the introduction of solid foods.
Results:
Lower values of body mass index and higher blood urea nitrogen were displayed by the CHy group at 3 months. Plasma aminoacidograms showed higher essential amino acids (AA)/total AA in SF, WHy and CHy groups but lower branched chain AA/essential AA in all formula-fed infants in comparison with the HM group.
Conclusions:
Special formulas (in particular high-degree protein hydrolysates) should be carefully evaluated when used for prolonged periods of time in healthy infants at familial risk of atopy.