In looking for something else I came across the below paper yesterday. It
appears to state that the only issue with giving infants over 6 mo
unmodified cows milk in preference to infant formula is iron status.
Presumably this would be easy to deal with with iron supplementation. 

So, why then is infant formula the only recommended milk after 6 mo?? Is
there something I am missing?

 

Tunnessen, J. W. W. and F. A. Oski (1987). "Consequences of starting whole
cow milk at 6 months of age." The Journal of Pediatrics 111(6, Part 1):
813-816.

            Two groups of infants, one fed whole cow milk commencing at 6
months of age(n=69) and the other continuing to recelve iron-fortified
infant formula (n=98), were closely observed over their second 6 months of
life. Af 12 months of age, infants fed cow milk had significantly lower mean
serum ferritin leveis and mean corpuscular volume, higher free erythrocyte
protoporphyrin values, and greater incidence of hemoglobin values <11 g/dL
than did formula-fed infants. There were no significant differences in
frequency of otitis media, wheezing episodes, nasal discharge or congestion,
diaper dermatitis, constipation, gualac-positive stools, or hospital
admissions between the two groups. These data suggest that, to avoid iron
deficlency, infants should continue to receive iron-fortlfied formula
throughout the first year of life or a dally iron supplement if they are fed
whole cow milk before their first birthday.

 

Karleen Gribble

Australia


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