Effects of alpha-lactalbumin-enriched formula containing different concentrations of glycomacropeptide on infant nutrition.
BACKGROUND
Formula-fed infants have growth and plasma amino acid patterns different from those of breastfed infants.


OBJECTIVE
alpha-Lactalbumin is a major protein in human milk, and the addition of bovine alpha-lactalbumin to infant formula has been proposed to modify the plasma amino acid pattern of the recipient infant, possibly allowing a reduction in the protein content of the formula, which may affect growth.


METHODS
We compared breastfed infants and infants fed standard formula or alpha-lactalbumin-enriched formulas (25% of protein) with glycomacropeptide accounting for 15% or 10% of the protein. The protein content of each formula was 13.1 g/L. Ninety-six infants aged 6 +/- 2 wk were recruited. Anthropometric measures were recorded, and interviews were conducted at enrollment and monthly until 6 mo of age. Blood samples were collected at enrollment and at 4 and 6 mo.


RESULTS
Formula intake did not differ between groups, and weight gain in the alpha-lactalbumin-enriched formula groups were similar to that of the breastfed infants. The standard formula group gained significantly more weight than did the breastfed infants. All formula-fed infants had significantly higher plasma concentrations of most essential amino acids at 4 and 6 mo than did the breastfed infants, and serum urea nitrogen was also higher in the formula-fed infants. Insulin and leptin concentrations did not differ between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with standard formula-fed infants, infants fed formula with a modified protein composition had growth patterns more similar to those of breastfed infants. All formula-fed groups had plasma amino acid concentrations similar to or higher than those of breastfed infants. This indicates that the protein content of alpha-lactalbumin-enriched formula can be further reduced, which should be evaluated.
Sandström
Olof
O
Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Lönnerdal
Bo
B
Graverholt
Gitte
G
Hernell
Olle
O
D000601:Amino Acids, Essential / Q000097:blood; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D000601:Amino Acids, Essential; D006020:Glycopeptides; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D007768:Lactalbumin