Milk-Based Infant Formula
The most common infant formulas consumed by infants are made from modified cow’s milk with added carbohydrate (usually lactose), vegetable oils, and vitamins and minerals. Casein is the predominant protein in cow’s milk. Since the primary protein in breast milk is whey protein, rather than casein, some milk-based infant formulas have been altered to contain more whey. Despite that alteration, the protein in infant formula is significantly different from that in breast milk because of their different amino acid and protein composition. In milk-based infant formulas, about 9 percent of the kilocalories are provided by protein, 48–50 percent by fat, and 40–45 percent by carbohydrate. These
infant formulas are lower in fat and higher in carbohydrate, protein, and minerals than breastmilk.
infant formulas are lower in fat and higher in carbohydrate, protein, and minerals than breastmilk.
Iron-Fortified Infant Formula
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that iron-fortified cow’s milk-based infant formula is the most appropriate milk feeding from birth to 12 months for infants who are not breastfed or who are partially breastfed.
Use of an iron-fortified infant formula ensures that formula-fed infants receive an adequate amount of iron, an important nutrient during the first year. Standard iron-fortified infant formulas are fortified with approximately 10 to 12 milligrams of iron, in the form of ferrous sulfate, per quart. Research shows that providing ironfortified infant formula and cereal for the first 12 months of life, as done in the WIC and CSF Programs, has been successful in reducing iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is associated with poor cognitive performance and development in infants.
Use of an iron-fortified infant formula ensures that formula-fed infants receive an adequate amount of iron, an important nutrient during the first year. Standard iron-fortified infant formulas are fortified with approximately 10 to 12 milligrams of iron, in the form of ferrous sulfate, per quart. Research shows that providing ironfortified infant formula and cereal for the first 12 months of life, as done in the WIC and CSF Programs, has been successful in reducing iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is associated with poor cognitive performance and development in infants.
Low-Iron Infant Formula
In 1997, the AAP Committee on Nutrition recommended that the manufacture of infant formula containing less than 4 milligrams of iron per quart be discontinued.3 Some of the most commonly used milk-based infant formulas are also available with reduced iron content. These low-iron infant formulas now contain approximately 5 milligrams of iron per quart of formula.
There are no known medical conditions for which the use of iron-fortified infant formula is contraindicated. Some caregivers request low iron infant formula for their infants because they believe that the iron in the infant formula causes gastrointestinal problems, such as colic, constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting. However, studies have demonstrated that gastrointestinal problems are no more frequent in infants consuming iron-fortified than low-iron infant formula.
As noted above, for the partially or non-breastfed infant, iron-fortified infant formula is the formula of choice to assure that an infant’s iron needs are met.
There are no known medical conditions for which the use of iron-fortified infant formula is contraindicated. Some caregivers request low iron infant formula for their infants because they believe that the iron in the infant formula causes gastrointestinal problems, such as colic, constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting. However, studies have demonstrated that gastrointestinal problems are no more frequent in infants consuming iron-fortified than low-iron infant formula.
As noted above, for the partially or non-breastfed infant, iron-fortified infant formula is the formula of choice to assure that an infant’s iron needs are met.
Soy-Based Infant Formula
Soy-based infant formulas were developed for infants who cannot tolerate infant formula made from cow’s milk. These infant formulas contain soy protein isolate made from soybean solids as the protein source, vegetable oils as the fat source, added carbohydrate (usually sucrose and/or corn syrup solids), and vitamins and minerals. Soy-based infant formulas are fortified with the essential amino acid methionine, which is found in very low quantities in soybeans. In these infant formulas, 10 to 11 percent of the kilocalories are provided by protein, 45 to 49 percent by fat, and 41 to 43 percent by carbohydrate. All soy-based infant formulas are fortified with similar amounts of iron as milk-based iron-fortified infant formulas.The AAP has stated that soy-based infant formulas are safe and effective alternatives to cow’s milk-based infant formulas, but have no advantage over them.
Soy-based infant formulas may be indicated in the following situations:
The use of soy-based infant formulas has no proven benefit in the following situations:
Soy-based infant formulas may be indicated in the following situations:
- Infants with galactosemia (a rare metabolic disorder) or hereditary lactase deficiency
- Infants whose parents are seeking a vegetarian diet for their full-term infant or
- Infants with documented IgE-mediated allergy to cow’s milk protein.
The use of soy-based infant formulas has no proven benefit in the following situations:
- Healthy infants with acute gastroenteritis in whom lactose intolerance has not been
- Infants with colic
- Prevention of allergy in healthy or high-risk infants and
- Infants with documented cow’s milk protein induced enteropathy or enterocolitis.