In May of this year, the British Medical Journal published a wonderful “Health and nutrition claims for infant formula are poorly substantiated and potentially harmful”.
Probably, many mothers, faced with the need to choose a formula for a child, were at a loss from the variety of infant formulas. What to choose? On one, for example, it is written that it will improve digestion, and on the other that it will strengthen the immune system. On the third – that it is hypoallergenic (and who wants to stuff a child with a “hyperallergenic” formula? – sarcasm).
An analysis of the available scientific data has shown that many of these statements are too bold and do not have sufficient scientific justification.
What can this lead to?
Replacing breastfeeding with artificial “in order to improve the health of the child” (we specially quote it) if the manufacturer of the mixture promises that it will somehow improve the health of the child.
In fact: if breastfeeding is possible, it is always preferable to artificial. The use of the mixture increases the risk of gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory and intestinal infections, obesity (PROBIT Study trial, JAMA, 2001, Rollins et al, Lancet, 2016). Reducing the duration of breastfeeding may increase the risk of breast cancer (Rollins et al, Lancet, 2016)
Trying to solve a child’s health problems by self-changing the formula may lead to an untimely visit to the doctor and the selection of treatment (for example, self-selection of a hypoallergenic formula in case of rashes in a child or replacing a regular formula with a formula that improves digestion in the presence of reflux or other gastro-intestinal disorders). intestinal complaints)
In fact: a hypoallergenic formula, for example, is a partial hydrolyzate designed to reduce the risk of developing allergies in a healthy child whose family has allergies, if this child requires formula in the first four months.
Even this statement is very controversial, since the accumulated scientific data on this topic are very contradictory. Moreover, if a child already has an allergy to milk proteins, a hypoallergenic mixture is highly likely to cause allergy symptoms in him as well.
In addition, given the huge volumes of formulas that babies consume per day in relation to their weight (if you calculate a similar portion of the formula for an adult male weighing 70 kg, this is about 11-14 liters per day), you need to understand that the effect of the formula on the child’s body huge. Therefore, if the formula somehow harms the child, this harm can be of tremendous importance. If the component of the formula has some scientifically based positive effect, then it should be indicated on all formulas with this component so as not to mislead the consumer.
We hope our brief review will help you to be more wary of formula marketing claims and discuss baby nutrition first and foremost with a doctor you trust.
You can read the entire article at this link