Retrospective Cohort Study of a New Infant Formula during the First 6 Months of Life: Reflections on Growth Curves, Human Milk and Formula Feeding

摘要

Background: Optimil~R is an infant formula, manufactured in Israel and introduced to the market in May 2008. Objectives: To assess the effect of this formula on infant growth.Method: The study group comprised 52 infants who for the first 6 months of life consumed Optimil, which constituted at least 25% of theirtotal daily intake. Anthropometric data were collected from the records of the well-baby clinics. Weight, length and head circumference at baseline and 3 months thereafter were converted to gender and age-matched standard deviation Z-scores. As an exploratory uncontrolled analysis, questionnaires were sent to the caregivers to assess satisfaction with the formula and to note the rate of constipation, irritability and vomiting as well as apparent patatability.Results: The baseline Z-scores of all three parameters were below zero but increased significantly after 3 months (-0.2 +-0.88 to 0.12 +- 0.88, P = 0.013 for weight; -0.44 +- 0.87 to 0.10 +- 0.72, Pi 0.001 for length; and -0.58 +- 0.78 to -0.1 +- 0.76, P< 0.001 for head circumference). There was a significant dose-response effect of the formula with weight gain. The formula was generally well accepted, with 8% constipation, 8% vomiting and 6% significant irritability. Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence that infants consuming Optimil under age 6 months have adequate growth. Nonetheless, breastfeeding during this period should be preferred in almost all cases.