That is what we think, Jennifer. In order to get the right proteins, the
baby has to break down the cow proteins into amino acids, throw some
away (burn them as energy, which if available in excess becomes fat
stores) and reassemble the remainder to make human proteins. The same
likely happens with other nutrients. Metabolic processes happen
differently as well - bile salts congugate with different amino acids in
ff and bf infants, for one example. FF (especially preterm) infants have
a smaller bile salt pool, and are poorer at absorbing fats from their
intestines. Better absorption leads to better growth and development.
And that's just one tiny system, there are many that work differently in
ff and bf kids.

We don't fully understand the impact of all these changes, but we see
the health effects.

Catherine Watson Genna, BS, IBCLC  NYC

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