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Formula‐fed full term infants have lower fractional absorption but greater total calcium absorption than human milk‐fed infants
Author(s) -
Hicks Penni D,
Abrams Steven A
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a991
Subject(s) - infant formula , chemistry , absorption (acoustics) , calcium , calcium metabolism , zoology , food science , physics , biology , organic chemistry , acoustics
Background The fatty acid (FA) profile of infant formula resembles the FA profile of human milk (HM), but the % of palmitic acid in the sn‐2 position of the triglyceride in infant formula is lower than that of HM and this may limit calcium (Ca) absorption. Objective We sought to evaluate the effects of higher Ca concentrations in formula relative to HM. Methods Stable isotopes were used to evaluate Ca absorption in healthy term infants fed HM (n=18) or infant formula (n=10). Formula fed infants received either Enfamil Lipil with Fe (EL) or EL with interesterifed palm olein fat blend (IPO). All infants were 70–84d at time of isotope study. The day of study infants were given 3mg 44 Ca equilibrated for 24hrs in 60mL of HM or formula and 10μg 46 Ca IV. Results Mean Ca absorption was 76.8 ± 14.7 % for the HM group, and 61.6 ± 14.4 % (Mean ± SD) for the Formula groups (p = 0.007). Results for the two formula types were similar. Calcium intake was 204 ± 40 mg/d for HM group (based on weighed milk intake and estimation of HM as 25 mg/mL of Ca) and 547 ± 111 mg/d for the Formula groups (based on sample analysis). Mean Ca absorption was 157.6 ± 44.9 mg/d for the HM group and 331.9 ± 79.4 mg/d for the Formula groups (p <0.001). Although HM infants were provided supplemental vitamin D (200 IU/d) the mean plasma 25‐OHD levels were 28.7 ± 9.1 ng/mL for the HM group and 39.4 ± 11.6 ng/mL for the Formula groups (p = 0.018). Discussion Calcium absorption was high from both infant formula and HM. Much higher levels of calcium intakes from formula than human milk leads to greater total absorption, the benefits of which are uncertain. Supported by Mead Johnson Nutritionals