Formula Challenge How infant formulas compare with each other and with breast milk
By Sunly Coo
The numbers are growing; the variations, astounding. "New and improved" infant formulas keep hitting the market, each one bombarding mothers with advertisement trumpeting its superiority over the others. Stripped of the marketing frenzy, which formula really comes closest to what is best for babies?
Without a doubt, nothing can beat Nature's own recipe--the human milk, designed specifically to meet the growth demands of infants and to develop their physical, mental, and emotional potentials to the fullest. Despite the ubiquitous slogan, "Breast milk is still best for babies," some mothers believe that the add-ons in certain formulas are not available in human milk, but are substances manufacturers included that would make a child intellectually and physically better than its unsophisticated breastfed counterpart. Nothing could be further from the truth. The human milk is a complete source of nutrition for babies one to six months old. It automatically adjusts to the changing needs of a growing infant; for instance, its protein concentration is highest during the first few months when the infant's requirement for it reaches the peak. Breast milk is also always temperature-controlled, sterile, and, of course, free. "It is always available; at any one time you can feed. And the poo-poo is all right, around four to six times a day. With the formula, it's only twice a day, and the baby experiences irritation in the perianal area," says Dr. Cynthia Cuayo-Juico, head of the pediatric department of Manila Doctors' Hospital. The maternal-and-child bonding is also compromised with bottle-feeding. She continues: "Infant formulas are approximating mother's milk. But none of them can exactly copy breast milk." A key difference is the lack of immunoglobulins, immune boosters secreted in millions by the mother every time she is exposed to a germ. And while it seems that the formula contains a whole gamut of nutrients necessary to the baby, there is the issue of absorption. "I tell you right now that no matter how much they add DHA, AA, and other ingredients, the absorption is a big question. Nobody has studied the absorption of these." All formulas must pass the Codex Standard for Infant Formula before they are sold. The Codex Standard was adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1976, and amended in 1983, 1987, and 1997. It has been submitted to all members of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization for acceptance in accordance with the General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius.
Whether a formula is made from cow's milk or soya, whether it's for premature or full-term infants who are given the regular 60:40 whey-casein ratio, whether it's hypoallergenic or lactose-free, whether it's a starter (for one day to six months) or follow-on milk (six to 12 months and up) it should have protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals-the basic contents of mother's milk. Dr. Juico cautions: "A lot of pediatricians make the mistake that if the baby has allergy, he should be given soya or lacto-free milk. A hypoallergenic milk should be prescribed instead. Allergy pertains to proteins, while lactose is a carbohydrate. Lactose intolerance means that the baby has to either have a soya-based milk or lacto-free milk." To mimic human milk, formulas are also supplemented with special nutrients unheard of until a few years back: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid critical to the proper brain and eye development of infants, specifically the gray matter of the brain and the retina. DHA comes from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential fatty acid that cannot be synthesized by the body but is obtained through diet. Deficiency of either could result in decreased learning capability, abnormal EEG, and impaired vision. AA or ARA (arachidonic acid) is the principal omega-6 fatty acid in the brain. Aside from being an essential factor for brain development, it is also a precursor to a group of hormone-like substances called eicosanoids, which are important in immunity, blood clotting, and other vital functions in the body. Too much AA could affect visual acuity. Both DHA and AA are significant components of breast milk, the primary and best source for long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Studies have shown a significant difference in the cognitive performance and visual acuity of infants who are on DHA/AA-supplemented formula versus those who are weaned on ordinary, un-supplemented formulas. Vulnerable to deficiencies in DHA and AA are prematurely born infants, who had little time in the womb to build up stores of these fatty acids during the shortened pregnancy. Bifidus, a friendly bacteria for the large intestine, helps prevent gas, bloating and diarrhea. Prebio1, a "breakthrough developed by the Nestle Research Center in Switzerland," is a natural soluble fiber that helps prevent constipation, strengthen body resistance, and promote optimum growth Taurine is an amino acid vital to the proper utilization of sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. It has a protective effect upon the human brain, appearing in levels four times higher in a child's developing brain compared to an adult's. Nucleotides help strengthen the immune system. They play a critical role during infancy when rapid growth and cell division require them in great quantities. Since infants are incapable of producing enough nucleotides to meet their needs, breast milk adequately compensates for it. According to Dr. Herminia P. Lopez-Cifra, head of the pediatric ICU at the Philippine Children's Medical Center, no single formula is the best for all infants. "It really depends on the individual infant's needs…And it is the pediatrician who is well positioned to decide on the most appropriate formula for the baby," she explains. "For instance, we're especially afraid to give premature babies formulas with excessive protein content or excessive solute which might not be easily digested or might produce some toxic effect to the organ. So you cannot make a blanket statement concluding that one formula is superior to the rest." |
