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Infant nutrition – protein and its influence on growth rate
Author(s) -
Sidnell A.,
Greenstreet E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
nutrition bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1467-3010
pISSN - 1471-9827
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-3010.2009.01785.x
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , infant formula , medicine , weight gain , pediatrics , obesity , childhood obesity , observational study , formula feeding , early childhood , breast feeding , body weight , developmental psychology , psychology , endocrinology , overweight
Summary Breastfeeding provides the optimum nutrition for young infants and one of the aims of the new UK‐World Health Organization growth charts is to encourage healthcare professionals and parents to see breastfed infants' growth rate as the norm. Formula‐fed infants gain weight more quickly than breastfed infants in the first year of life, and this may be because of the greater quantity of protein in infant formula. Childhood obesity rates are increasing and obesity is probably the result of a multitude of factors. Observational studies have indicated that rapid growth in infancy may contribute to a later risk of obesity. New randomised controlled studies have shown that lower protein levels in infant formula can slow infants' weight gain, and this may offer short‐ and long‐term health benefits. New innovations in protein quality now allow reductions in the total protein content of infant formula.