WSU Study Finds a Significant Difference Between Infant Formulas in Building
A Baby's Bones
Pediatrics Study Shows That Babies Develop Greater Bone Mineral Content When
Fed Infant Formula Without Palm Olein Oil as an Ingredient
DETROIT, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Infants fed different infant formulas can
develop significantly different levels of bone mineral content and bone
mineral density -- key indicators of bone strength -- according to a study
appearing in the May issue of Pediatrics, the official journal of the
American Academy of Pediatrics.
"Our research showed that babies develop significantly greater, more
favorable levels of bone mineral content and density when fed an infant
formula without palm olein oil than when fed a formula containing that oil,"
said Winston W. K. Koo, M.D., Wayne State University Professor of Pediatrics
and author of the study.
"Infancy is an especially critical time to be building bone because bone mass
increases at its fastest rate during the first year. How bones develop
during this period and throughout childhood can potentially affect bone
health for life," Dr. Koo stated.
Pediatric healthcare providers and parents can influence infant bone
development by recommending and providing a diet that promotes excellent
calcium absorption and leads to higher levels of bone mineral content and
density.
"Breast feeding is still the best way to go," Dr. Koo said. "But for babies
who are not breastfed, our study showed that not all infant formulas are the
same, even if their nutritional content is essentially the same on the label.
There are important differences in the selection of ingredients that
significantly influence calcium absorption and bone mineralization."
The two infant formulas compared in the study had the same level of calcium,
but had differences in key ingredients including the oil blend and type of
calcium salts used. "When evaluating an infant formula, you need to consider
the whole nutrient matrix. We knew from research reported by others that a
palm olein-free infant formula, such as Similac With Iron, had an advantage
in calcium absorption. Our new clinical evidence linked this formula's
greater calcium absorption to a greater increase in bone mass, and that
likely means stronger bones," Dr. Koo said.
The study was conducted at Hutzel Hospital, Wayne State University.
Whole-body bone mineralization was determined by dual energy X-ray
absorptiometry, a technique that scans the body to measure bone mineral
content and density.
"This sophisticated instrumentation helped make our findings possible," Dr.
Koo said. "Bone mineralization cannot be determined simply by looking at
someone. On physical examination there were no differences in the infants'
weight, length and head circumference over the course of the study. But our
instrumentation provided a new window on what was happening in the
development of bone within the babies' bodies."
Funding for the study was provided by Abbott Laboratories' Ross Products
Division (Columbus, Ohio), a manufacturer and marketer of pediatric and adult
nutritional products including the Similac line of infant formulas.
With more than 1,000 medical students, WSU is among the nation's largest
medical schools. Together with its clinical partner, the Wayne State
University Physician Group, the school is a leader in patient care and
medical research in a number of areas, including cancer, genetics,
neuroscience and women's and children's health.
SOURCE Wayne State University
CO: Wayne State University
ST: Michigan
SU: SVY CHI
http://www.prnewswire.com
05/05/2003 11:00 EDT
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