Monell Center Studies Infant Formula Ingredients, Weight Gain

A new study from the Monell Center shows how the type of formula infants drink influences weight gain, which further can affect health conditions later in life. While most infants consume cow-based milk, soy-based and protein hydrolysate-based formula options are also available. The study, which was published online in the journal Pediatrics, showed the infants who consumed the hydrolysate formula gained weight at slower rate than those consuming a cow milk-based formula. Both formulas had the same amount of calories, and the study also revealed infants fed the hydrolysate formula consumed less during a meal. The study’s findings highlight the need to understand the long-term influences of infant formula composition on feeding behavior, growth and metabolic health. Future studies in the area will utilize measures of energy metabolism and expenditure to examine how the individual formulas influence growth, and how each differs from breastfeeding.