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  • 12/30/2010

Type of formula affects baby’s weight

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The type of formula fed to an infant may influence not only the pace of weight gain in the newborn but also his/her risk of developing obesity in the long run.

Infants drinking cow milk formula gain more weight in a shorter time than those fed with protein hydrolysate formulas also known as hypoallergenic formulas, according to a small study published in the Pediatrics.

Protein hydrolysate formulas (PHF) contain proteins that have already been broken down to facilitate the digestion process in infants suffering from certain absorption problems.

Despite having the same amounts of calorie, cow milk is reported to have less protein than PHF formulas; the two formulas, therefore, influence the growth rate in the infant differently, said study author Julie Mennella.

The follow up of 56 mothers for seven months showed that infants who drink cow milk-based formulas gain 0.9 more kilograms than those who drink PHF ones, said the researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center.

"One of the reasons the protein hydrolysate infants had similar growth patterns to breast-fed infants, who are the gold standard, is that they consumed less formula during a feed as compared to infants fed cow’s milk formula," Mennella added.

"Numerous studies have shown that rapid rates of growth during first year are linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome, mortality," Mannella noted. "Lifelong health begins during infancy."

Researchers believe having a better understanding of the different effects of feeding with breast milk and various types of formulas on the infants’ growth rate may help prevent many health consequences in the long run.

Source: presstv.ir

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