Formula intake in early infancy
Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Background: Formula fed (FF) infants, the majority of whom are fed a standard cow milk infant formula (CMF), have greater weight gain than breast fed (BF) infants; this is of concern as accelerated weight gain in infancy is associated with greater obesity risk later in life. However, FF infants are not a homogenous group; infants fed an extensive protein hydrolysate formula (EHF) appear to have normative weight gain (similar to that of BF infants), while infants fed CMF experience accelerated weight gain. The energy balance mechanisms contributing to differential weight gain are unknown; it is hypothesized to be due in part to differences in energy intake. ☐ Aims: Determine energy (kcal/kg/day) and protein intake (g protein/kg/day), by formula type, in a contemporary cohort of healthy term FF infants in the first month of life. To compare nutrient intake to the estimated energy requirement (EER) and protein adequate intake (AI) of the 2005 Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). ☐ Design: Infants in this analysis are part of an ongoing randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the effect of CMF versus EHF formula on growth, energy balance, and satiety in healthy term infants. ☐ Methods: At study entry, (Visit 1) all infants were fed CMF for approximately for one week; formula intake was determined by a 1-day diet record. At Visit 2, a 3-day supply of pre-weighed bottles with measured amounts of the randomized formula (either CMF or EHF) were provided; infants were fed only from these bottles and formula intake was determined by 3-day test weighing of the bottle (TWbottle). ☐ Results: When all infants were feeding CMF (Visit 1, mean infant age 12.2±2.8 days), energy intake was higher than the EER and protein AI by 20.7% and 83.0%, respectively. At Visit 2 (mean infant age19.3±3.0 days) infants randomized to feed EHF had significantly (p<0.01) lower energy intake than infants fed CMF, 101.5±25.6 versus 125.2±26.1 kcal/kg/d, respectively. EHF fed infants had significantly (p<0.05) higher protein intake than CMF fed infants (2.9±0.7 versus 2.6±0.5 g/kg/d, respectively). Energy intake of CMF fed infants significantly (p<0.01) exceeded the EER by 13.6%; energy intake of EHF fed infants was lower (6.6%) than but not significantly different (p=0.06) from the EER. ☐ Conclusion: When all infants were feeding CMF, intake exceeded the energy EER and protein AI. Upon consumption of their randomized formula, CMF fed infants exceeded the energy EER and the protein AI, while EHF fed infants had an intake similar to the EER and greater than the protein AI. Energy intake of CMF fed infants was greater than energy intake of EHF fed infants, suggesting the protein composition of the formula influences intake.
Description
Keywords
Early infancy, EER, Energy intake, Formula feeding, Infant formula, Protein intake