Dear Friends:
    I got a folder at a local hospital that  promotes Similac with Iron.
    The cover says "There is a  difference...........Three more reasons to 
recommend Similac with Iron Infant  Formula." There are lots of nice smiling 
babies, graphs and amazing writing. 
    The heading of one section says "Similac with Iron,  with its unique fat 
blend, has been clinically shown to support growth and  visual and mental 
development like that of breastfed infants." In the text below  this lovely 
heading, there is a highlighted box  saying that "Adding DHA and AA to Similac with 
Iron provided no  advantage for term infants' visual acuity, general 
developmen, information  processing, temperament, language."
    This section goes on to say that "The findings are  consistent with a 
previous study that showed no visual or developmental benefits  at 12 months or 
39 months when DHA and AA were added to Similac with  Iron."
    So why should anyone buy the fancy new stuff?
    And what sort of dissonant technique is this, for  Abbott to put out a 
brochure knocking another one of its formulae?
    Inside the folder is a study (Pediatrics 2001; Vol  108 (2):372-381) 
where the breastfed group was in two sub-groups: those starting  formula within 11 
days of birth, and those exclusively breastfed for at least 3  months 
(including a "small percentage" that were fed less than 16 oz of  
supplement/week............so why are they included in the exclusively breastfed  group?)
    The conclusion of this study includes  "........no advantages to 
breastfeeding on any of the development outcome (sic)  demonstrated." Also "These 
findings do not support adding AA + DHA to enhance  growth, visual acuity" and 
other factors during the first 14 months after  birth.
    Ross's own research is showing that these expensive  new formulae are 
worthless....so why would they advertise this  finding? Answer: to keep selling 
their old formula...Similac with  Iron.
    warmly,
    
 
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE
Maternal-Child Adjunct  Faculty Union Institute and University
Film Reviews Editor, Journal of Human  Lactation
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com

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