title: Effect of bovine lactoferrin from iron-fortified formulas on diarrhea and respiratory tract infections of weaned infants in a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with bovine lactoferrin (bLf) from iron-fortified formulas on diarrhea and respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in weaned infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, multicenter, controlled intervention study, 260 infants ages 4 to 6 mo who previously were exclusively breastfed but weaned were randomized into two groups: a lactoferrin-fortified formula milk group (fortified group, FG, containing lactoferrin 38 mg/100 g milk) and a no lactoferrin-fortified milk (control group, CG); breastfed infants were enrolled and served as a reference group (breastfed group, BG). The intervention duration was 3 mo. The morbidity of diarrhea and RTIs were collected during supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the study demonstrated evidence of a lower incidence rate of respiratory-related illnesses and fewer symptoms of running nose, cough, and wheezing for infants in the FG and BG groups compared with those in the CG (P < 0.05). Despite the undistinguished incidence rate of vomiting, nausea, and colic, the occurrences of diarrhea-related illnesses were significantly lower for children in the FG and BG than for those in CG (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The beneficial effects on infectious morbidity over 3 mo highlighted the potential of bLF supplementation for previously weaned infants; these findings may be applicable to other infants living in similar socioeconomic districts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: surgemail@163.com.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Beingmate Baby & Child Food Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lingying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Health Care, Women and Children's Health Care Hospital of Qing Baijing, Qing Baijing District, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health Care, Women and Children's Health Care Hospital of Jinniu, Jinniu District, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Women and Children's Health Care Hospital of Dayi, Dayi County, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Hu-Mina
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health Care, Women and Children's Health Care Hospital of Chenghua, Chenghua District, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Women and Children's Health Care Hospital of Dongpo, Dongpo District, Meishan, China.
authors.forename: Weizheng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health Care, Women and Children's Health Care Hospital of Xindu, Xindu District, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago.
authors.forename: Alice C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry*; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D007781:Lactoferrin
keywords: Formula; Infant; Infectious morbidity; Lactoferrin; Supplementation