i am still gathering information about the mead-johnson study here in denver.
i would like to suggest that we don't start writing a bunch of angry letters
until we have the entire picture. it takes a while to get everything
together, and i am now at the point of waiting for a call from the doctor who
is running the study. only when i have all my questions answered will i feel
ready to make comments. after all, perhaps they DID provide adequate
information to mothers about the risks of introducing formula at three months
of age (okay, when you all stop laughing i will tell you more).

here is what i have gathered so far. the state of coloradosent out a letter
with the name of the governor governor on the letter and the slogan
"dedicated to protecting and improving the heath (sic) and environment of the
people of colorado" on the letter, and signed by the state registrar. i guess
it is a good thing it didn't say "the HEALTH of the people of colorado" or
they might be in big trouble.

(okay, heath is a nice plant found in places like scotland, and this was a
typo obviously meaning "health" but i would like to think the best of people
and dream that the governor did not put his name and a slogan like that on a
letter asking mothers to be in a formula study).

to sum up, the study is asking mothers of exclusively breastfed male babies
(male because it is easier to obtain urine samples) "planning to supplement
with milk based formula during the third month" to give either a low or high
iron formula twice a day for three weeks, to keep records daily of weight and
input and output and keep the specimens, keep dietary intake records, and to
give the formula once or twice a day (3 oz. amounts).

 they are also giving a "zinc stable isotope" to the baby the first day of
each metabolic period in either formula or pumped breast milk. the full title
of the study is "comparison of zinc absorption in breasted infants
supplemented with high or low iron formula."

could someone who is familiar with this isotope and has a better idea of what
this study might be trying to do please email me privately ASAP as i want to
be better informed before i talk to the doctor about this study.

my friend the reporter is eager to help publicize this story, particularly
some of the less savory aspects. one thing that bothers me is that the letter
to mothers says:

"if you do not wish to have your name released to these researchers, please
check the box below and return this letter in the enclosed self-addressed
stamped envelope. Otherwise, the researchers might contact you within the
next few weeks with more information about the study. Your agreement to be
contacted by the researchers does not mean that you have to participate."

IS THIS ETHICAL? this is a negative response sort of thing, that is, you have
to tell them you DON'T want to be in the study. does anyone know?

inquiring minds want to spearhead a new crusade.

carol brussel IBCLC
laura nevada lactation
denver colorado

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