Effects of cow milk versus extensive protein hydrolysate formulas on infant cognitive development.
Little research has focused on infant developmental effects, other than growth, of formulas that differ substantially in the form of protein. To examine development of infants fed formulas differing in free amino acid content, we randomized 0.5-month-old infants (n = 79) to either a control group who fed only cow milk formula (CMF) during the first 8 months (CMF8), or to one of two experimental groups: one experimental group fed extensively protein hydrolyzed formula (EHF) for 1-3 months during first 4.5 months (EHF1-3) of life, and the other fed EHF for 8 months (EHF8). The Mullen Scales of Early Learning were administered monthly from 1.5 to 8.5 months to assess fine (FM) and gross (GM) motor control, receptive (RL) and expressive (EL) language, visual reception (VR), and an early learning composite (ELC). Across the 5.5-8.5-month time period, when compared to CMF8 infants, GM scores in EHF1-3 infants averaged 1.5 points higher (95 % CI 0.1, 3.0) and in EHF8 infants 2.2 points higher (95 % CI 0.3, 4.0). Similarly, VR scores averaged 1.9 points higher (95 % CI 0.1, 3.8) in EHF1-3 infants and 2.2 points higher (95 % CI -0.2, 4.5) in EHF8 infants. EHF8 infants' RL scores averaged 1.8 points lower (95 % CI 0.1, 3.6) than CMF8 infants. These data suggest that the form of protein in infant formula may impact cognitive development and that the higher free amino acid content in breast milk may be a contributing factor to the differential cognitive development between breastfed and CMF-fed infants.


BACKGROUND
clinicaltrials.gov NCT00994747.
Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-3308, USA. mennella@monell.org.
Julie A
JA
Mennella
Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware, 015 Carpenter Sports Building, 26 North College Avenue, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
Jillian C
JC
Trabulsi
Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware, 015 Carpenter Sports Building, 26 North College Avenue, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
Mia A
MA
Papas
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002657:Child Development; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D000596:Amino Acids; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates
Cognitive development; Cow milk formula; Extensive protein hydrolysate formula; Free amino acids