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Trying To Perfect Mothers' Milk
by Megan Martin
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Grocery stores and other retail outlets contain what seems to be a plethora of formula choices, leaving parents confused and at the mercy of a formula makers latest nutritional discovery. However child nutrition experts say these new products may not benefit babies as much as their ads suggest, and due to Food and Drug Administration standards, all brands offer adequate nutrition, although none as good as breast milk.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that women breastfeed exclusively until babies are 6 months old yet only about one-third of women do so. Studies suggest that people who were breastfed are less likely to become overweight or obese and to develop breast cancer, allergies, insulin-dependent diabetes, and chronic intestinal diseases such as Crohn's disease. And several large studies have shown that breastfed babies have IQs that are, on average, about six points higher than formula-fed babies.
Despite this, formula makers go forward in quest of inventing a formula that nourishes as well as mothers milk. Iron was added to formula in the 1960s which is credited for leading to a significant drop in the incidence of iron-deficiency anemia in bottle-fed babies.
Different brands have also been introduced to meet the special needs of some babies. In 1929, for example, manufacturers discovered cow's milk formulas bothered some babies, and introduced soy-based formula.
Despite these efforts though, pediatricians see little differences in formula for normal babies. Brands may be formulated slightly differently but the FDA has specifications for minimum amounts of 29 nutrients and maximum amounts for nine of those nutrients.
Today manufacturers are heavily marketing formulas that contain two omega-3 fatty acids, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid). Scientists have long known that breast milk naturally contains DHA and ARA, and that breastfed babies have higher blood levels of these chemicals than do formula-fed babies. They are important in the development of the brain and visual system, and some nutrition experts have suggested that their presence in breast milk may partly answer why breastfed babies have higher average IQ scores.
However, child nutrition experts also say that these formulas while good for preterm babies may not make much difference for healthy, full-term babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics neither endorses nor warns against including omega-3s in formula. The FDA, which permits DHA and ARA in formula, notes the mixed evidence and that there have been no published studies of the long-term effect.
Studies have long suggested that formula lacks some of the infection-fighting components of breast milk. Nutrition experts say that formulas will continue to evolve with the next likely wave of formulas containing probiotics or live bacteria and yeasts found in substances such as yogurt. Even though these organisms are not found in breast milk, the hope is that they'll help boost the ability of babies to fight infection.
In a 2004 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, infants and toddlers receiving formula containing two probiotic bacterial strains were prescribed fewer antibiotics than children who received ordinary formula.
Despite these advances, nutrition experts believe that formula will never be as good as the mothers milk that our bodies naturally produce.
Comments
CAV_Mod |
Fri, Mar 17, 2006 5:44pm
Does anyone disagree with this? Are you surprised that a lot of the formula is similar? There is also a forum: http://www.ratemybabypics.com/forum/24.html to read more about what parents are saying on this subject. |
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amandale |
Sat, Jun 07, 2008 2:16pm
I am not really surprised that most formula is almost the same....I buy the "off brand" foods at the grocery store for the same reason :) |
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