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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203533
Title: Formula-fed full term infants have lower fractional absorption but greater total calcium absorption than human milk-fed infants

Author
item HICKS, PENNI - UNIV CALIFORNIA DAVIS
item Abrams, Steven

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/18/2005
Publication Date: 4/2/2006
Citation: Hicks, P.D., Abrams, S.A. 2006. Formula-fed full term infants have lower fractional absorption but greater total calcium absorption than human milk-fed infants [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 20(5):A991.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Background: The fatty acid (FA) profile of infant formula resembles the FA profile of human milk (HM), but the % of palmitic acid in the sn-2 position of the triglyceride in infant formula is lower than that of HM, and this may limit calcium (Ca) absorption. Objective: We sought to evaluate the effects of higher Ca concentrations in formula relative to HM. Methods: Stable isotopes were used to evaluate Ca absorption in healthy term infants fed HM (n=18) or infant formula (n=10). Formula-fed infants received either Enfamil Lipil with Fe (EL) or EL with interesterifed palm olein fat blend (IPO). All infants were 70-84d at time of isotope study. The day of study infants were given 3mg 44Ca equilibrated for 24hrs in 60mL of HM or formula and 10µg 46Ca IV. Results: Mean Ca absorption was 76.8 +/- 14.7 % for the HM group, and 61.6 +/- 14.4 % (Mean +/- SD) for the Formula groups (p = 0.007). Results for the two formula types were similar. Calcium intake was 204 +/- 40 mg/d for HM group (based on weighed milk intake and estimation of HM as 25 mg/mL of Ca) and 547 +/- 111 mg/d for the Formula groups (based on sample analysis). Mean Ca absorption was 157.6 +/- 44.9 mg/d for the HM group and 331.9 +/- 79.4 mg/d for the Formula groups (p <0.001). Although HM infants were provided supplemental vitamin D (200 IU/d), the mean plasma 25-OHD levels were 28.7 +/- 9.1 ng/mL for the HM group and 39.4 +/- 11.6 ng/mL for the Formula groups (p = 0.018). Discussion: Calcium absorption was high from both infant formula and HM. Much higher levels of calcium intakes from formula than human milk leads to greater total absorption, the benefits of which are uncertain.