Growth of term infants fed a commercial infant formula with a protein content of 2.2 g/100 kcal: an observational follow-up study

Abstract

To evaluate the suitability of the new nutritional composition of renewed commercial Formula A (protein reduced to 2.2 g/100 kcal, arachidonic acid increased to 13.2 mg/100 kcal, and docosahexaenoic acid maintained at 20 mg/100 kcal), we examined whether the growth of Formula A-fed infants was equivalent to that of breastfed infants. In this observational study, 1,053 infants were followed-up to 12 months. Growth, stool consistency, and the health condition of 99 infants fed with Formula A and 295 breastfed infants were compared. Body weight, body mass index, and head circumference of Formula A-fed infants were similar to those of breastfed infants. Additionally, there were no differences in the stool consistency and the health condition (infection and allergy prevalence) between the two groups. Formula A-fed infants grew as well as breastfed infants, suggesting the appropriate nutritional composition of Formula A. The findings may contribute to further improvements in infant formulas.