Authors: Julie A Mennella Jillian C Trabulsi Mia A Papas
Publish Date: 2015/10/26
Volume: 48, Issue: 3, Pages: 697-705
Abstract
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 05monthold 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 45 months EHF13 of life and the other fed EHF for 8 months EHF8 The Mullen Scales of Early Learning were administered monthly from 15 to 85 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 55–85month time period when compared to CMF8 infants GM scores in EHF13 infants averaged 15 points higher 95 CI 01 30 and in EHF8 infants 22 points higher 95 CI 03 40 Similarly VR scores averaged 19 points higher 95 CI 01 38 in EHF13 infants and 22 points higher 95 CI −02 45 in EHF8 infants EHF8 infants’ RL scores averaged 18 points lower 95 CI 01 36 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 CMFfed infantsWe acknowledge the expert technical assistance of Sara Castor Laura Lukasewycz Overton and Susana Finkbeiner This research was supported by grants R01HD37119 and R01HD072307 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or the National Institutes of Health The funders had no role in study design data collection and analysis decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript
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