The ideal formula for healthy term infants

The Maillard Reaction in Powdered Infant Formula

“…Because infant formulas are the primary substitute for or supplement of breast milk and are often the only source of nutrients during a significant period of rapid growth and development, it is crucial that the infant formula manufacturing industry provide safe and nutritionally adequate products to meet infants' needs [3]. It is essential that these products deliver sufficient amounts of all nutrients in appropriate ways, because the inclusion of unnecessary components or in inappropriate amounts of nutrients may overload an infant's physiological and metabolic functions [11]. [6,13,16] Recommendations for nutrient limits have been given by FAO and WHO [12], in addition to other authors [6,11,13].…”

“…It is essential that these products deliver sufficient amounts of all nutrients in appropriate ways, because the inclusion of unnecessary components or in inappropriate amounts of nutrients may overload an infant's physiological and metabolic functions [11]. [6,13,16] Recommendations for nutrient limits have been given by FAO and WHO [12], in addition to other authors [6,11,13]. They are presented in Figure 1 along with the importance of the primary nutrients.…”

Novel Approaches to Improve the Intrinsic Microbiological Safety of Powdered Infant Milk Formula

“…Bovine milk is the basis for most infant formulae but contains higher levels of fat, minerals and protein compared to human milk so it is skimmed and diluted, to more closely resemble human milk composition [ 13 , 14 ]. Other animal milk based formula are currently not acceptable, principally due to a lack of robust randomized clinical trials (RCTs) [ 15 ]. Soy based formulae are also available and are widely used, but it has been recommended that their use be limited due to potentially harmful effects to the infant due to the presence of phytoestrogens in the formulae [ 16 , 17 ].…”

“…The authors also concluded that the high concentration of iron in reconstituted PIF may have negated the iron binding ability of LF [ 98 ]. In addition to the antimicrobial effects exhibited by LF, studies have shown it can have a positive effect on outcomes of respiratory disease and levels of red blood cells in circulation when added to infant formula [ 15 , 111 ]. Recently, an EFSA panel announced that bovine LF is safe for inclusion in infant formula at specific concentrations [ 112 ].…”

“…Prebiotics (“non-digestible carbohydrates which beneficially influence the growth of a specific group of bacteria in gastro-intestinal tract” [ 136 ]) such as fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and beta-galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) inclusion in PIF has also become commonplace due to the purported effect they have on the growth of beneficial bacteria [ 3 ]. Various oligosaccharides have been investigated to confirm their prebiotic potential, such as acidic and neutral (GOS) and from pectin hydrolysis, short-and long chain FOS, inulin, and combinations of these substances [ 15 ]. The term “Synbiotic” is used when both probiotics and prebiotics are administered together.…”