Tailored recommendations for infant milk formula intake results in more accurate feeding.

Publisher: Springer Verlag Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 7603873 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-1076 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 03406199 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Eur J Pediatr Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Berlin : Springer Verlag
Original Publication: Berlin, New York, Springer-Verlag.

Infant Formula* ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Body Weight ; Nutritional Requirements ; Energy Intake

Currently available guidelines on the daily formula milk requirements of infants are based on the needs of infants with their growth pattern following the 50th percentile of the weight-for-age growth curve. Hence, current recommendations may not thoroughly detail the needs of infants across the broad spectrum of body weight percentiles. This study aimed to provide stratified recommendations for daily formula milk intake of fully formula-fed infants, across different weight-for-age categories from 0 to 4 months. At first, theoretical age- and gender-specific weight ranges were constructed for infants across five pre-defined weight-for-length percentile categories of the WHO growth standard. Thereafter, total daily energy requirements for each category were calculated and converted to daily formula milk needs. Subsequently, these stratified age- and weight-formula milk recommendations were compared to actual daily and relative formula milk of infants in these categories, retrieved from pooled individual infant formula milk intake data derived from 13 clinical intervention trials. A fitted regression model was used to evaluate differences in volume intakes across body weight categories as well as between theoretically derived and actual intake values. Median daily formula milk volume intake (ml/day) of infants differed significantly across the increasing weight-for-age categories at each time point, with significant differences between small and large infants. Interestingly, the relative daily formula milk volume intake (ml/kg/day) was higher for smaller infants compared to larger infants. The mean daily and relative formula milk intakes demonstrated the same pattern based on theoretical calculations as well as for the actual formula milk intake values retrieved from 13 pooled clinical intervention trials.
Conclusions: Based on theoretical calculations and actual formula intake data, we conclude that larger infants require a significantly higher daily formula milk intake than smaller infants, and we postulate that infants could benefit from more tailored formula milk intake recommendations.
What Is Known: • Adequate energy intake during the infancy period is crucial to support optimal growth and organ development, with the potential for long-lasting health effects. • Current available guidelines on the daily formula milk requirements of infants are based on the needs of infants with their growth pattern following the 50th percentile of the weight-for-age growth curve.
What Is New: • Based on using both theoretical calculations and actual formula intake data, larger infants require a significantly higher daily formula milk intake than smaller infants. • Exclusive formula-fed infants could benefit from more tailored formula milk intake recommendations, in early infancy.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)

Patel JK, Rouster AS (2022) Infant nutrition requirements and options. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing Copyright © 2022, StatPearls Publishing LLC. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560758/.
Gluckman PD, Hanson MA, Cooper C, Thornburg KL (2008) Effect of in utero and early-life conditions on adult health and disease. N Engl J Med 359(1):61–73. (PMID: 10.1056/NEJMra0708473185962743923653)
Akre J (1994) WHO report on infant and young child nutrition: global problems and promising developments. Soz Praventivmed 39(6):397–398. (PMID: 10.1007/BF012996727817629)
Agostoni C, Grandi F, Giannì ML, Silano M, Torcoletti M, Giovannini M et al (1999) Growth patterns of breast fed and formula fed infants in the first 12 months of life: an Italian study. Arch Dis Child 81(5):395–399. (PMID: 10.1136/adc.81.5.395105197101718130)
Zheng M, Lamb KE, Grimes C, Laws R, Bolton K, Ong KK et al (2018) Rapid weight gain during infancy and subsequent adiposity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence. Obes Rev 19(3):321–332. (PMID: 10.1111/obr.1263229052309)
Andres A, Casey PH, Cleves MA, Badger TM (2013) Body fat and bone mineral content of infants fed breast milk, cow’s milk formula, or soy formula during the first year of life. J Pediatr 163(1):49–54. (PMID: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.12.06723375908)
Bell KA, Wagner CL, Feldman HA, Shypailo RJ, Belfort MB (2017) Associations of infant feeding with trajectories of body composition and growth. Am J Clin Nutr 106(2):491. (PMID: 10.3945/ajcn.116.151126286592995525119)
Sobik S, Sims CR, McCorkle G, Bellando J, Sorensen ST, Badger TM et al (2021) Early infant feeding effect on growth and body composition during the first 6 years and neurodevelopment at age 72 months. Pediatr Res 90(1):140–147. (PMID: 10.1038/s41390-020-01157-z32961547)
Heinig MJ, Nommsen LA, Peerson JM, Lonnerdal B, Dewey KG (1993) Energy and protein intakes of breast-fed and formula-fed infants during the first year of life and their association with growth velocity: the DARLING Study. Am J Clin Nutr 58(2):152–161. (PMID: 10.1093/ajcn/58.2.1528338041)
Ong KK, Emmett PM, Noble S, Ness A, Dunger DB (2006) Dietary energy intake at the age of 4 months predicts postnatal weight gain and childhood body mass index. Pediatrics 117(3):e503–e508. (PMID: 10.1542/peds.2005-166816510629)
Hester SN, Hustead DS, Mackey AD, Singhal A, Marriage BJ (2012) Is the macronutrient intake of formula-fed infants greater than breast-fed infants in early infancy? J Nutr Metab 2012:891201. (PMID: 10.1155/2012/891201230569293463945)
Huang J, Zhang Z, Wu Y, Wang Y, Wang J, Zhou L et al (2018) Early feeding of larger volumes of formula milk is associated with greater body weight or overweight in later infancy. Nutr J 17(1):12. (PMID: 10.1186/s12937-018-0322-5293686515784650)
Gilmore LA, Altazan AD, Flanagan EW, Beyer AG, Olson KN, O’Connell AA et al (2020) Modifications to infant formula instructions improve the accuracy of formula dispensing. Nutrients 12:4. (PMID: 10.3390/nu12041150)
Li R, Fein SB, Grummer-Strawn LM (2010) Do infants fed from bottles lack self-regulation of milk intake compared with directly breastfed infants? Pediatrics 125(6):e1386–e1393. (PMID: 10.1542/peds.2009-254920457676)
Sievers E, Oldigs HD, Santer R, Schaub J (2002) Feeding patterns in breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Ann Nutr Metab 46(6):243–248. (PMID: 10.1159/00006649812464723)
Niklas T (2014) Effects of feeding term infants low energy low protein formula supplemented with bovine milk fat globule membranes. Umeå University, Sweden.
Diéguez E, Nieto-Ruiz A, Sepúlveda-Valbuena N, Herrmann F, Agil A, De-Castellar R et al (2023) Long-term effects and potential impact of early nutrition with breast milk or infant formula on glucose homeostasis control in healthy children at 6 years old: a follow-up from the COGNIS study. Nutrients 15:4. (PMID: 10.3390/nu15040852)
Butte NF (1996) Energy requirements of infants. Eur J Clin Nutr 50(Suppl 1):S24-36. (PMID: 8641266)
FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) Energy and protein requirements. Report of a joint FAO/WHO/UNU expert consultation. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser 724:1–206.
Trumbo P, Schlicker S, Yates AA, Poos M (2002) Dietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein and amino acids. J Am Diet Assoc 102(11):1621–1630. (PMID: 10.1016/S0002-8223(02)90346-912449285)
World Health Organization (2020)Weight-for-length. https://www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards/standards/weight-for-length-height.
Abrahamse-Berkeveld M, Alles M, Franke-Beckmann E, Helm K, Knecht R, Köllges R, Sandner B, Knol J, Ben Amor K, Bufe A (2016) Infant formula containing galacto-and fructo-oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V supports adequate growth and tolerance in healthy infants in a randomised, controlled, double-blind, prospective, multicentre study. J Nutr Sci 5:e42. (PMID: 10.1017/jns.2016.35286204695465812)
Boyle RJ, Tang ML, Chiang WC, Chua MC, Ismail I, Nauta A, Hourihane JOB, Smith P, Gold M, Ziegler JJ, Peake J, Quinn P, Rao R, Brown N, Rijnierse A, Garssen J, Warner JO (2016) Prebiotic-supplemented partially hydrolysed cow’s milk formula for the prevention of eczema in high-risk infants: a randomized controlled trial. Allergy 71:701–710. (PMID: 10.1111/all.1284827111273)
Breij LM, Abrahamse-Berkeveld M, Vandenplas Y, Jespers SNJ, de Mol AC, Khoo PC, Kalenga M, Peeters S, van Beek RHT, Norbruis OF, Schoen S, Acton D, Hokken-Koelega ACS (2019) An infant formula with large, milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets containing a mixture of dairy and vegetable lipids supports adequate growth and is well tolerated in healthy, term infants. Am J Clin Nutr 109:586–596. (PMID: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy322307931656408203)
Huet F, Abrahamse-Berkeveld M, Tims S, Simeoni U, Beley G, Savagner C, Vandenplas Y, Hourihane JO (2016) Partly fermented infant formulae with specific oligosaccharides support adequate infant growth and are well-tolerated. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 63:e43-53. (PMID: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001360274724785051523)
Lay C, Chu CW, Purbojati RW, Acerbi E, Drautz-Moses DI, de Sessions PF, Jie S, Ho E, Kok YJ, Bi X, Chen S, Mak SY, Chua MC, Goh AEN, Chiang WC, Rao R, Chaithongwongwatthana S, Khemapech N, Chongsrisawat V, Martin R, Roeselers G, Ho YS, Hibberd ML, Schuster SC, Knol J (2021) A synbiotic intervention modulates meta-omics signatures of gut redox potential and acidity in elective caesarean born infants. BMC Microbiol 21:191. (PMID: 10.1186/s12866-021-02230-1341720128229302)
Moro G, Arslanoglu S, Stahl B, Jelinek J, Wahn U, Boehm G (2006) A mixture of prebiotic oligosaccharides reduces the incidence of atopic dermatitis during the first six months of age. Arch Dis Child 91:814–819. (PMID: 10.1136/adc.2006.098251168734372066015)
Phavichitr N, Wang S, Chomto S, Tantibhaedhyangkul R, Kakourou A, Intarakhao S, Jongpiputvanich S, Roeselers G, Knol J (2021) Impact of synbiotics on gut microbiota during early life: a randomized, double-blind study. Sci Rep 11:3534. (PMID: 10.1038/s41598-021-83009-2335744217878856)
Piemontese P, Giannì ML, Braegger CP, Chirico G, Grüber C, Riedler J, Arslanoglu S, van Stuijvenberg M, Boehm G, Jelinek J, Roggero P (2011) Tolerance and safety evaluation in a large cohort of healthy infants fed an innovative prebiotic formula: a randomized controlled trial. PLoS ONE 6:e28010. (PMID: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028010221404993227609)
Rigo J, Schoen S, Verghote M, van Overmeire B, Marion W, Abrahamse-Berkeveld M, Alliet P (2019) Partially hydrolysed whey-based formulae with reduced protein content support adequate infant growth and are well tolerated: results of a randomised controlled trial in healthy term infants. Nutrients 11(7):1654. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071654. (PMID: 10.3390/nu11071654313310656682927)
Rodriguez-Herrera A, Tims S, Polman J, Porcel Rubio R, Muñoz Hoyos A, Agosti M, Lista G, Corvaglia LT, Knol J, Roeselers G, Pérez Navero JL (2022) Early-life fecal microbiome and metabolome dynamics in response to an intervention with infant formula containing specific prebiotics and postbiotics. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 322:G571–G582. (PMID: 10.1152/ajpgi.00079.2021353480159109790)
Shek LP, Chong YS, Winokan A, Abrahamse-Berkeveld M, Van Der Beek EM, Teoh OH, and Group On Behalf Of The Venus Working (2021) Evaluation of an infant formula with large, milk-phospholipid coated lipid droplets on long-term growth and development of Singaporean infants: randomized controlled trial protocol. Nutrients 13:8. (PMID: 10.3390/nu13082865)
Teoh OH, Lin TP, Abrahamse-Berkeveld M, Winokan A, Chong YS, Yap F, Marintcheva-Petrova M, van der Beek EM, Shek LP (2022) An infant formula with large, milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets supports adequate growth and is well-tolerated in healthy, term asian infants: a randomized, controlled double-blind clinical trial. Nutrients 14:3. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030634. (PMID: 10.3390/nu14030634)
van der Aa LB, Heymans HS, van Aalderen WM, Sillevis Smitt JH, Knol J, Ben Amor K, Goossens DA, Sprikkelman AB (2010) Effect of a new synbiotic mixture on atopic dermatitis in infants: a randomized-controlled trial. Clin Exp Allergy 40:795–804. (PMID: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03465.x20184604)
EFSA. EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Scientific opinion on dietary reference values for energy. EFSA Journal. 2013;European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy.
Fildes A, van Jaarsveld CH, Llewellyn C, Wardle J, Fisher A (2015) Parental control over feeding in infancy. Influence of infant weight, appetite and feeding method. Appetite 91:101–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2015.04.004. (PMID: 10.1016/j.appet.2015.04.004258629834504026)
Ferguson MC, O’Shea KJ, Hammer LD, Hertenstein DL, Syed RM, Nyathi S et al (2020) Can following formula-feeding recommendations still result in infants who are overweight or have obesity? Pediatr Res 88(4):661–667. (PMID: 10.1038/s41390-020-0844-3321798697492437)
Savage JS, Birch LL, Marini M, Anzman-Frasca S, Paul IM (2016) Effect of the INSIGHT responsive parenting intervention on rapid infant weight gain and overweight status at age 1 year: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatr 170(8):742–749. (PMID: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.0445272714554969142)
Altazan AD, Gilmore LA, Guo J, Rosenberg DM, Toupo D, Gowins A et al (2019) Unintentional error in formula preparation and its simulated impact on infant weight and adiposity. Pediatr Obes 14(12):e12564. (PMID: 10.1111/ijpo.12564313477766834868)
Mennella JA, Smethers AD, Delahanty MT, Stallings VA, Trabulsi JC (2023) Glutamic acid intake by formula-fed infants: are acceptable daily intakes appropriate? Eur J Pediatr 182(12):5701–5705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-023-05215-6. (PMID: 10.1007/s00431-023-05215-63777635410746772)

Keywords: Energy; Formula milk; Growth trajectory; Infants; Weight-for-age

Date Created: 20240826 Date Completed: 20241014 Latest Revision: 20241120

20241120

PMC11473556

10.1007/s00431-024-05726-w

39186085