FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2003
For more information, contact:
Linda Folden Palmer, author, [log in to unmask], (619) 222-8753
or
(619) 871-9126
Lisa Poisso, Natural Family Online editor,
[log in to unmask],
(972) 315-1455
Gina Ritter, Natural Family Online publisher,
[log in to unmask], (845) 227-2390
New analysis finds doubled death rate among formula-fed American infants
The December issue of Natural Family Online magazine
(www.naturalfamilyonline.com) features a new analysis finding that
formula feeding doubles infant death rates for babies in the United States.
Heath educator and author Dr. Linda Folden Palmer's report, based on several
decades of research from the United States and across the world, reveals
that the use of infant formula costs the lives of an estimated American
9,335 babies each year.
According to Palmer's report, formula feeding costs American babies more
than four additional lives per thousand. The final relative risk for
formula feeding comes out to 2 - double the risk of death for American
infants
who are fed with formula, compared with babies who are fed naturally.
Based on the current U.S. infant death rate of 6.7 and an average
breastfeeding rate of 50%, the report shows that the American infant
mortality rate would climb to 9.4 if all infants were formula-fed and
would drop to 4.7 if all were breastfed.
"Infant formula was designed to be a medical nutritional tool for babies
who are unable to breastfeed," Palmer said. "Formula does not fully meet
the
nutritional and immunity needs of infants. It leaves their immune
systems flailing."
Both condensed and full, referenced versions of Dr. Palmer's report are
available at
http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/BF/200312-formula-report.htm.
The report's conclusions are derived from an examination of the
available scientific research on infant mortality in the United States and
across
the world. Research included in Palmer's report includes studies showing
artificial feeding's impact on overall infant death rates in developing
and undeveloped countries; studies providing comparative illness occurrence
rates for many illnesses and disorders in the United States and other
industrialized nations; and reports examining superior survival rates
and decreased illness rates among breastfed infants. The report assembles
these statistics to build a firm picture of the ratio of infant deaths for
U.S. formula-fed babies against those who are breastfed.
The report cites results from numerous studies illustrating the negative
impact of formula feeding on the health and survival of infants with
various illnesses and health problems, including Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome
(SIDS); heart, circulatory and respiratory failure; diarrhea;
respiratory illnesses; cancer; and low birth-weight and pre-term babies.
Illness and death rates of breastfed babies who receive formula
supplementation are much closer to those of fully formula-fed babies,
Palmer's report notes. Numerous studies referenced in the report reveal
conclusively that the longer breastfeeding lasts, the greater the
measurable difference in illness and death rates.
Available evidence strongly contradicts commonly made assertions that
formula feeding does not risk lives in industrialized nations where
education and medical advances prevent increased deaths, Palmer said.
"Some insist that the blame for the United States' relatively high
infant death rate lies with underprivileged communities," Palmer said. "But
after examining the available research, we see that elevated death rates
among
U.S. blacks cannot be attributed to poverty. Hispanic Americans rank
similarly to African-American populations for socio-economic factors,
but they match non-Hispanic whites in their lower infant mortality rates.
The difference is not socio-economic; the difference is in rates of formula
use versus breastfeeding."
For both condensed and full, referenced versions of Dr. Palmer's report,
see http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/BF/200312-formula-report.htm. See
Natural Family Magazine at www.naturalfamilyonline.com.
Janice Reynolds
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