Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Raising Kids A Better Infant Formula?

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A Better Infant Formula?
By Rochelle Caviness

Breast Milk is The Best Formula

Breast milk is by far the best infant formula around. It is easily digested, supplies the baby with not only his nutritional needs but also passes along immunity to a variety of diseases. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),

• Breast milk does not produce allergic reactions in babies.
• Breast milk contains over 100 ingredients not found in commercial formulas.
• The suckling action of breast feeding can help teeth grown in straighter, compared to the teeth of a bottle fed baby.
• Breast feeding creates a unique bond between mother and child.

While breast feeding has many benefits, it is not always an option. If it is not possible to feed a baby breast milk, the only other alternative is commercial infant formula.

Commercial Formulas

Although commercial formulas are not identical to breast milk, companies try to manipulate the formulas so that they are as close to breast milk as is possible. As scientific knowledge about the components of breast milk increases, as well as knowledge about infant nutrition in general, these changes influence the formulation of the infant formulas.

• Before changes are made in existing infant formula recipes, scientific studies are conducted to determine what effect such a change might make.
• If it appears that the change would be beneficial and does not pose the risk of any adverse side effects, governmental agencies that oversee infant formulas (such as the FDA in the U.S.), will ok the changes and the new formula will be offered for sale.
• The FDA not only sets specific nutritional requirements for commercial infant formulas, but also oversees the manufacture and quality control of infant formulas.

One of the newest ingredients being considered for inclusion in commercial infant formulas are essential fatty acids.

Several European studies have concluded that the addition of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) to infant formula can increase an infants intelligence and health. These fatty acids are normally transferred to an infant in utero and through breast milk. In Europe, fatty acids have been added to infant formula for some time, however in the U.S., the addition of these products is still being studied.

• Recent U.S. studies, such as the one conducted by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), has concluded that there was a significant and measurable boost in intelligence scores for those children fed formula fortified with DHA and AA.

One of the fatty acids being considered as an additive to infant formulas is DHA. DHA is one of the Omega 3 fatty acids, and is an essential ingredient necessary for the proper development of an infants brain, retina and nervous system.

• Common dietary sources of Omega 3 fatty acids come from cold water fish, such as salmon and in leaves of some plants. Many people, especially in North America, have diets that are deficient in Omega 3 and in particular - DHA.

• Studies have shown that pregnant women who suffer from low levels of Omega 3 have a higher chance of giving birth to a baby that will be mentally retarded.
• Consequently, most countries now have dietary guidelines advocating specific, daily, DHA and other Omega 3 requirements for both children and adults. The FDA has yet to set a standard for US consumption.

AA is an Omega-6 fatty acid that is being considered for inclusion in commercial infant formulas manufactured in the U.S. Currently AA and DHA are added to European formulas. Natural dietary sources of AA include the sunflower and corn oils.

Although the jury is still out (at least in the U.S.), there is every indication that the inclusion of fatty acids in commercial infant formulas will be a major step forward in helping make commercial formulas more like breast milk.

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