Discussion: Is the Modification of Cow's Milk Necessary in Infant Feeding?

1. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus develops within a group of individuals who carry specific diabetes susceptibility traits. Because all of the potential diabetes "susceptibility genes" are not known, currently it is not possible to identify all individuals at risk. It appears, however, that a small percentage of such individuals will ever develop clinical diabetes mellitus. 2. The autoimmune destructive process may be triggered by a number of environmental events. 3. Early exposure of infants to cow's milk protein may be an important factor in the initiation of the β cell destructive process in some individuals. It is not known whether the cow's milk protein in commercially available infant formulas is associated with this process. 4. The avoidance of cow's milk protein for the first several months of life may reduce the later development of IDDM or delay its onset in susceptible individuals. 5. Research directed toward further defining the possible relationship between infant feeding practices and the development of IDDM is needed.

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COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.23.2.408 ◽

1959 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 408-412

Keyword(s):

Human Milk ◽

Infant Feeding ◽

Infant Nutrition ◽

Proteolytic Enzymes ◽

Enzyme Treatment ◽

Cow’S Milk ◽

Cow's Milk ◽

Scant Attention ◽

Mere Existence ◽

Nutritional Benefits

Treatment of raw cow's milk with pancreatic proteolytic enzymes reduces curd tension to levels comparable to those achieved by many other methods suitable for the preparation of soft-curd milk. No other biologic or nutritional benefits have been shown to result from enzyme treatment of milk. No evidence is available for assigning any benefit in infant nutrition to the proteolytic activity naturally occurring in human milk or persisting in enzyme-treated cow's milk after pasteurization. Argument based on the mere existence of proteolytic enzymes in human milk cannot justify enthusiastic claims for use of enzyme-treated milk in infant feeding. The subject of enzymes in milk and their potential role in infant feeding has received scant attention; further study may reveal information which will call for reappraisal in the future.

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Iron Status and Infant Feeding Practices in an Urban Ambulatory Center

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.72.1.33 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 33-36

Author(s):

P. David Sadowitz ◽

Frank A. Oski

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Infant Feeding ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Status ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Cow’S Milk ◽

Infant Feeding Practices ◽

Cow's Milk ◽

Iron Deficient

The relationship of infant feeding practices to iron status was examined in a group of 280 infants, 9 to 12 months of age, attending a "well-baby" clinic. Of this group, 7.6% were found to be iron depleted, 19.7% were iron deficient without anemia, and 8.2% were iron deficient with anemia. The incidence of iron-deficiency anemia was significantly greater in the black infants than the white infants (14.3% v 2.7%). The introduction of whole cow's milk into the diet had occurred prior to 6 months of age in 29.2% of the infants, and 62.1% of these infants had laboratory evidence of nutritional iron inadequacy, as contrasted with only 21.8% of those with iron deficiencies fed cow's milk after 6 months of age. Of the 21 infants with iron-deficiency anemia, 19 (90.5%) had been fed whole cow's milk prior to 6 months of age. Iron deficiency remains a nutritional problem for infants in an urban setting and is largely a result of the early introduction of whole cow's milk into the diet.

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