I am the LC for a website co-owned by my neice.  It is The Mom's Connection
at  http://www.themomsconnection.com  This is a reply I sent in answer to an
inquiry about the new additives to Enfamil that is being discussed on the
site on the Podium and Lactation Consultant boards.  Thanks to all at
Lactnet for helping me to formulate my thoughts on this and be able to send
a knowledgeable and thoughtful reply.  Anything else I might add to it?


I certainly think it is good to make formula better for the babies of those
mothers who choose not to breastfeed. However, much of the info on this new
formula is media hype and marketing. I would hate for this advertising
campaign to make anyone think that using this or any other brand of formula
is almost like breast milk. In fact, formulas of different brands are much
more like each other, than any of them are like breast milk.
Even at this website (http://www.enfamil.com/lipil/index.html)
 they say that there is no research to support that
adding these substances to formula will benefit the babies who are fed that
brand. There is no research to direct what quantity of these substances when
added are necessary or helpful. There is no research to determine whether
these substances will work alone to improve the development of eye and brain
tissue, or whether they need to be consumed along with other substances as
yet unindentifed in breast milk to help them to work.

Many studies have shown enhanced eye and vision development in babies that
are fed breast milk. Many studies indicate an 8-10 point higher IQ in
children at 6-8 years of age that were fed breast milk as compared to those
who were fed formula. Will adding DHA/ARA be the one ingredient that allows
formula children to achieve this normal level of development seen in
breastfed children? No one, not even the companies who are adding it, know.
In fact, the major competitor (Ross Labs.) issued many statements refuting
the claims that this would improve babies' outcomes. Now, I have heard that
they are adding it too, despite there own statement, just to keep up with
the competition.

Sounds to me like a huge marketing ploy that is essentially an experiment on
babies. Maybe 6-8 years from now we will get some research to show whether
this genetically enginerred additive was helpful, harmful, or nuetral to
babies' health.

Barb Berges BS, RN, IBCLC
Rochester, New York

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