Alicia, I agree re this link with infant feeding. The evidence was ably
reviewed by Dr. Ken Sikaris in an original article in the April 1997 issue
of ALCA News (soon to be ALCA Galaxy, and NOT to be confused with NALC
News: ALCA is changing the name of its long-established journal now that a
breakaway Australian "LC" group that includes non-IBCLCs as members has
chosen a name that varies by only one letter). You should read this: once
our web-site is complete I'll post it there. ALCA Vic Branch in March 1997
had a 2-day conference called "Milk and Sugar: infant feeding,
hypoglycaemia and diabetes", and Ken's was just one of many brilliant
papers presented. We also had US NIHDD diabetologist David Pettit, who
subsequently told us that he had found it immensely stimulating: everyone
learned a lot.

But it's not just breast or bottle we need to look at. One variable never
looked at is the increase in the total infant consumption of
hyper-allergenic beta-lactoglobulin, when whey-based formulas are used
rather than casein. Another example of companies making probably
significant changes with no safety or efficacy data, simply gross measures
of growth. We now have egg-containing formula being marketed without
thinking about setting in place research on rates of egg allergy in this
generation and indeed one generation further ahead, as babies gestated by
egg-allergic mothers are sensitised in utero ...Some RCTs seem indicated to
me. But curiously, we modern westerners would think it unethical to
experiment in a scientific manner on babies, though we continue to
experiment daily upon all formula-fed infants and gain no knowledge about
the least unsafe option, all for lack of a little science..

Incroyable! Maureen

PS. You can reach ALCA at [log in to unmask]
ALCA is hosting Jack Newman's tour of Australia: he's visiting most states,
though a request from SA came too late for us to be able to fit him in
there. Lucky us! Lactnetters can ask him to give a report once he's back in
late July...Urgent messages will reach him through the ALCA office, or ALCA
News Editors myself or Dr. Fiona Coombes: [log in to unmask]

And do remember that published contributors to ALCA News get a free copy of
the issue with their article in it. MM

Maureen Minchin, IBCLC
5 St, George's Rd., Armadale Vic 3143 Australia
tel/fax after March 1: 61.3.95094929 or 95000648