Lower-protein infant formula helps attain same growth rate as breastfed infants

Nov 10 2010

Newly published findings indicate that infants fed a lower protein infant formula developed by Pfizer Nutrition gained weight at a similar rate to those who were breastfed, according to a study published online today in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  Pfizer Nutrition has always recognized that breast milk is the best source of infant nutrition.  The study established that infants fed a new, lower-protein infant formula attained the same growth rate and growth pattern as breastfed infants.

The rate of growth of a child is an important indicator of overall health and reflects a child's nutritional well-being.  The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that nutrition during the first years of life is crucial for life-long health and wellness. Globally, twenty-three million children face nutritional challenges, with at least 20 million children under the age of five estimated to be overweight.

"This study showed that when we fed infants with a formula that contained specially-adjusted levels of protein that more closely matched those found in breast milk, these babies grew at a rate similar to breastfed babies," said a leading study author Rosario Capeding, MD, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Muntinlupa City, Philippines.  "As we learn more about the importance of nutrition during early childhood, we recognize there is a critical need to ensure nutrients are received in the most appropriate proportions to support appropriate growth and development."  Dr. Capeding is a pediatrician who values the importance of breastfeeding because of the immunity that breast milk provides – a subject which was not determined in this study.

One of the ways in which breast milk and standard infant formulas differ is in their protein composition and concentration.  Mature human milk contains 10-12 g/L of protein and is rich in essential amino acids.  Standard infant formulas typically contain higher levels of protein in order to provide sufficient quantities of essential amino acids.  It has been hypothesized that these higher protein concentrations could be one cause of the increased growth velocity seen in some formula-fed infants when compared to growth of infants who are exclusively breastfed. To allow for a reduction in total protein while preserving sufficient content of essential amino acids, the lower protein formula (New formula) used in this study was further enriched with alpha-lactalbumin, a protein that is found in human milk, and supplemented with small amounts of two amino acids, tyrosine and tryptophan.

"At Pfizer Nutrition, we are committed to developing infant formulas that help formula fed babies to achieve growth and health outcomes similar to human milk-fed babies," said Patricia A. DeRusso, MD, chief medical officer, vice president, Pfizer Nutrition.  "This study further supports the improved nutrient composition in our newly reformulated GOLD line of infant formula, which will allow us to continue to provide growing children with the right amount of the nutrients they need during their critical early years."