Winona County Community Health Department
Winona, Minnesota

The research that I have seen and the information used in WIC says that
it is not the iron in formula that causes most infant constipation.
That what causes infant constipation in formula fed babies is the fact
that cow's milk proteins make large curds and which also are slower to
digest which leads to constipation.  The iron in formula is harder for
the infant to utilize as well so they need a higher amount but it is
still not that much iron.  Some infants like some adults seem to be
highly sensitive to even small amounts of iron.
Most constipated infants on formula do better on soy formula which makes
smaller curds but has its own issues.
The bottom line continues to be that formula is not a good replacement
for human milk.

>Pat Thomas PHN