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When I read the headline of this news article, I was completely taken aback: "New evidence favors fortified baby formula." Huh? There is now evidence that infant formula that's fortified with DHA/ARA from algae is now favored over breast milk? Says who?
Well, the newspaper article title is a bit misleading, but so says a group of doctors who tested 202 9-month-old babies on their ability to perform a series of problem-solving tests. According to the study, which is published in the current issue of the journal Child Development, 51% of the babies who were on fortified formula from birth successfully completed the 3 tests, compared with only 29% who got regular formula without the added DHA/ARA.
Some babies in the study had been breastfed and those who were weaned from breast milk to formula when they were 4 to 6 months did equally well on all of the tests whether they got the fortified formula or not. According to the researchers, the take away is that perhaps these babies didn't receive the enhanced formula long enough for it to make a difference. But maybe the real reason is that they'd already gotten the benefits of the breast milk!
Now this study is all kinds of flawed. As Arwyn from Raising My Boychick noted on Twitter, if the study had noted the level of nutrition of the mothers of the breastfed babies and if formula company money wasn't involved, maybe it would be worth paying attention to. Yes, that's right, all of the formula used in the study was "donated" by Mead Johnson, makers of Enfamil. Wasn't that nice of them? In addition to donating the formula, Mead Johnson also paid two of the doctors (Hoffman & Birch) involved for subsequent studies. Dr. Hoffman has also received consultant fees from Mead Johnson to provide educational seminars for pediatricians. Let me guess, Dr. Hoffman recommends Enfamil!
These types of studies really frustrate me because the science is flawed and then you get headlines that scream "formula is better than breast milk!" and many people believe it. How many people who read this article will take the time to look up the abstract of the journal article where the study was published and realize this whole thing is just another marketing tactic by the formula companies. The sad part is that a lot of new parents will fall for this ploy. As Barbara Moore, president and CEO of Shape Up America!, told ABCNews.com in an e-mail, "This is a disturbing new development....Now parents will be encouraged to forgo breastfeeding--which is optimal for both mothers and babies--in favor of a hyped up infant formula."
And let's not forget there are some dangers associated with feeding babies formula that has been fortified with DHA/ARA, including gastrointestinal upset, jaundice, apnea and even death. For a great report on these enhanced formulas, please take the time to read Cornucopia's research in "Replacing Mother: Imitating Human Breast Milk in the Lab." Are these added ingredients safe, risky, or a benign marketing gimmick to sell more formula? Do your due diligence to decide, but please don't let Mead Johnson do it for you.
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
New study favors fortified formula?
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5 comments:
"And let's not forget there are some dangers associated with feeding babies formula that has been fortified with DHA/ARA, including gastrointestinal upset, jaundice, apnea and even death."
I glad you mentioned that, I think they really should have put it somewhere in the article. My nephew was allergic to the DHA/ARA in his formula and it took months for us to figure it out, even the pediatrician didn't catch it! He was fed formula from day one and he really horrible gas, stomach aches and diarrhea. Poor baby!
Hi I am really glad to meet you! I am an over 35 yr Af. Amer. mom who is currently expecting. Since my last child I had a partial mastectomy in one breast and had several questions regarding breastfeeding. I'm not due until April and have already begun asking questions.
I will def subscribe to your site. perhaps we can exchange links.
I am at http://grayandpregnant.blogspot.com hope you come by and say hi and follow.
sincerely
MamaLuv42
You know, if I had someone like you around when I had the twins this year, I really believe that Elijah wouldn't have needed that surgery for reflux.
After the birth of my first child, I breastfeed each of my children for a couple of months and then switched to formula. I was always told do it for a couple of months and that's "good enough,"
I began to notice that once I made the switch, some of my children began to have reflux or the dr. would say they were lactose intolerant.
Elijah was the worst case. I breastfeed the twins for about two months and then I had some health issues, and the doctors began to give me tons of medicines, so I stopped.
The biggest mistake of my life.
Shortly after, Elijah became so ill. Throwing up. Losing weight, and then the surgery.
If I had it to do over again. I would learn more. And then more. And continued with the breastfeedings.
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
Anon, I'm glad they finally figured out what was wrong with your nephew. The really bad part is, it's very difficult to find regular formula now. Once one of the formula companies started adding DHA/ARA which is of course naturally found in breast milk, everyone else jumped on the bandwagon. Now formula that isn't fortified is seen as not as good, although for some babies it's much safer!
Stesha, it's true that a lot of babies have trouble with formula. Also keep in mind that many black folks are lactose intolerant. No matter how much they break down the cow's milk, it's just very tough for tiny tummies to digest. I know that you did the very best you could for all of your kids. Now you can pass on what you're learning to new moms. Maybe you can help another woman avoid some of the heartbreak and worry you went through.
Thanks for the information! I've been doing some research on breastfeeding (for future use) and the question as to nutrients definitely comes up. I'm vegetarian and so I definitely have to be a bit more aware of my intake, especially with Vitamin B, DHA, etc. I take supplements now, but too much, it appears, can be harmful for baby.
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