Breast milk provides an excellent supply of most nutrients for newborn infants. Infant formulae should be nutritionally comparable to breast milk especially with regard to critical nutrients like iron and other trace elements. Infant formulae supplemented with various amounts of bovine lactoferrin were given to two groups of infants. These infants were compared with infants receiving unsupplemented formula and breast-fed infants. The effects of these diets on levels of haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum iron, ferritin and zinc were examined for a study period of 150 days. At birth, concentrations of iron, haemoglobin, haematocrit and zinc were comparable in all four feeding groups. The fact that the serum zinc level was not altered by lactoferrin supplementation appears to rule out an in-vivo effect of lactoferrin on zinc nutrition of infants. Ferritin levels of breast-fed infants were significantly higher than in non-supplemented formula-fed infants at day 30 and day 90. This difference was seen only at day 30, when comparing breast-fed infants to lactoferrin-supplemented formula-fed infants. Comparing the infants receiving formulae, the formula supplemented with the higher amount of bovine lactoferrin induced significantly higher serum ferritin levels compared to the unsupplemented formula at day 90 and day 150. These observations favour the idea that lactoferrin may be involved in iron absorption. Since this effect was pronounced only after 90 days, it has to be discussed as to whether this effect is a convincing argument for supplementing infant formulae with bovine lactoferrin.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Nucleotides and lactation milk].

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Food, Formulated↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Food allergies in early childhood. 2. Food choices].

The incidence of allergic diseases appears to be on the increase in industrialized societies. In infants at high risk for atopic diseases prevention in early life seems to be a high priority at this time. However, many questions remain to be answered because, in the absence of breast feeding which should be encouraged in all infants, substitute formula employed for prevention should guarantee the following requisites: optimal nutrition, reduced allergenicity or better hypoallergenicity, good palatability and low cost. Current concepts in the field of prophylaxis and diet therapy of food allergy are reviewed. Special emphasis is given to the biochemical, nutritional and antigenic properties of the different formulas employed in the management of these conditions.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Adrenal hemorrhage in the newborn. Diagnostic problems and presentation of a case].

Adrenal haemorrhage is not an exceptional event in the newborn. The probable predisposing factors are difficult delivery, fetal hypoxia, trombocytopenia and coagulation defects. The recommended therapeutical approach is conservative, even if some Authors prefer surgical evacuation of the haematoma. This report was prompted by our recent experience of a case of unilateral adrenal haemorrhage in a newborn. The methods useful in the diagnosis are thoroughly evaluated and discussed with special emphasis on echography which holds an important position in the early diagnosis of this condition.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗