I am looking at the article : "A controlled, randomized, double-blind trial  
of prophylaxis against jaundice among breastfed infants" in the August issue 
of  Pediatrics. Two of the authors already hold a patent on the L-aspartic acid 
 intervention (Gourley and Kreamer) which can be viewed at 
_http://www.warf.org/ipstatus/P01391US.PDF_ (http://www.warf.org/ipstatus/P01391US.PDF) .  NIH 
funding was also involved so the government holds part of this patent too.  The 
study was funded by 2 universities and Mead Johnson Nutritionals. There were  
a whopping 64 babies in the study divided into 4 groups. The control group of 
 breastfed infants had their highest level of bilirubin, 8 mg/dl on day 4! 
The  study is notable for what it left out, such as breastfeeding management  
guidelines, failure to disclose just what risk level the subjects were placed in 
 according to the Bhutani curve. Only 1 baby was actually in the highest risk 
 zone and the supplement was tested only on babies in the low to intermediate 
 risk zones. No comparison was made as to increasing the dose of 
breastmilk.The  authors state that 17 were in a risk zone above the low-risk zone. Their 
results  showed a 25% to 30% lower than control (no intervention) bilirubin 
values.  The authors also state that they have no competing interests!
 
Looks like another money-maker for the patent holders and Mead  Johnson.
 
Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

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