Infant nutrition – protein and its influence on growth rate

Abstract

Breastfeeding provides the optimum nutrition for young infants and one of the aims of the new UK-World Health Organization growth charts is to encourage healthcare professionals and parents to see breastfed infants' growth rate as the norm. Formula-fed infants gain weight more quickly than breastfed infants in the first year of life, and this may be because of the greater quantity of protein in infant formula. Childhood obesity rates are increasing and obesity is probably the result of a multitude of factors. Observational studies have indicated that rapid growth in infancy may contribute to a later risk of obesity. New randomised controlled studies have shown that lower protein levels in infant formula can slow infants' weight gain, and this may offer short-and long-term health benefits. New innovations in protein quality now allow reductions in the total protein content of infant formula.

Infant nutrition – diet between 6 and 24 months, implications for paediatric growth, overweight and obesity

“…The minimum amount of protein permitted by current EU (European Union) regulations in standard bovine milk‐based formula is 1.8 g/100 kcal, which, assuming an energy content of 67 kcal/100 ml, equates to 12 g of protein per litre. This minimum level of protein is considered necessary to ensure an adequate supply of essential amino acids for the growing infant (Sidnell & Greenstreet ).…”

“…Lower protein formulas can be achieved by selectively manipulating the composition of milk proteins to increase the levels of those with high biological quality in order to reduce the overall quantity of protein while still meeting the infants' essential amino acid needs (Sidnell & Greenstreet ). However, the compositional requirements laid out in the current Infant Formula and Follow‐on Formula Regulations restrict the scope for protein reduction in formulas.…”

Infant nutrition - review of lipid innovation in infant formula

“…2009; Trabulsi et al . 2009), reviewed previously in Nutrition Bulletin (Sidnell & Greenstreet 2009).…”

“…The first whey-dominant formulas appeared in the 1970s once electrodialysis was developed to demineralise the whey portion of the milk (Tomarelli 1992). This was followed by further protein improvements in the 2000s giving an amino acid profile closer to that of breastmilk, through the enrichment with the whey protein a-lactalbumin, and thus a reduction in the total protein content, with suggested benefits for formula-fed infants early growth rates (Koletzko et al 2009;Trabulsi et al 2009), reviewed previously in Nutrition Bulletin (Sidnell & Greenstreet 2009).…”

Infant feeding linked to long-term obesity

“…In this context, the formula milk industry is investigating improvements in the nutrient composition of infant formula. In an article in Nutrition Bulletin , December 2009, Sidnell and Greenstreet (2009) emphasised that innovation in formula milk has resulted in the development of lower‐protein formulas with improved amino acid characteristics to support slower growth in infants, which may be associated with long‐term health benefits. It is assumed that reducing the protein content and improving the protein quality of infant formula to mimic that of breast milk, as close as is possible, is desirable for those babies not receiving breast milk.…”