>HI. Here (below) are just a few study titles for comparison studies I
>grabbed quickly off of PubMed.


Linda, you have misunderstood me, and it's my fault as I didn't make 
it clear.  I know very well there are studies of babies fed on 
formula designed to check that new ingredients do not affect growth 
adversely, and which look at stools, and other specific aspects of 
intake.

What I was looking for is probably impossible:  true, long-term, 
independent, blinded, randomised, multi-centrered,  trial/s of 
thousands of infants, comparing formulas with and without 
modifications, and looking at many health outcomes. For example,  a 
formula which produces 'softer stools' may increase the rate of 
gastro-enteritis - but we won't know unless the studies are done 
which look at this.  There is anecdotal evidence that formula with 
pre-biotics produces gastric discomfort - but we don't know until 
studies are done.

>
>After reading on this list the high rate of babies being fed so many
>inappropriate/non-optimal concoctions over last century, I'm thinking to
>myself that the formula companies are due more credit for the saving of
>lives that would have succumbed to simpler concoctions, and it looks as
>though they aren't entirely responsible (or even hugely responsible) for
>parents' desires to feed something other than breastmilk.


That statement - that formula saves lives - is contentious!

Some parents (throughout history) have always arranged to feed their 
babies on something other than (their own) mother's milk, that's for 
sure. But the huge explosion in this 'desire', the massive cultural 
change that makes the majority of western babies (at least) dependent 
on formula for at least some of their infancy is fuelled by the needs 
of industry.

Formula companies do not deserve any credit at all.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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