NUTRITIONAL EFFECTS OF FORMULA FEEDING

A variety of formulas are available for feeding infants. The most commonly used formulas are from bovine milk, and nutrient specifi cations for infant formulas are available. Commercially available formulas are recommended when breastfeeding is not chosen. Cow’s milk is not recommended in the fi rst year of life because of its nutritional limitations and inappropriate nutrient concentrations. Cow’s milk has higher concentrations of protein and phosphorus, a lower calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, limited iron, less essential fatty acids, vitamin C, and zinc than human milk. Increased renal solute load due to cow’s milk and increased occult blood loss via the gastrointestinal tract leading to iron defi ciency and anemia in infants fed cow’s milk not supplemented by other nutrients are additional reasons to discourage the feeding of cow’s milk in early infancy.