Effects of the composition and caloric value of infant formulas on intake and hormone levels.

ABSTRACT

Seventy-six normal full-term infants have been observed from birth to the fourth month of life. Thirty-six were breast-fed; the others were fed four different feeds (conventional or adapted formulas) containing different amounts of calories, protein, fat, and carbohydrate. The control mechanism of volume intake appears to be well functioning in infants fed human milk and adapted formulas providing conventional calorie concentrations. The other formulas were associated with either a high BUN or high base insulin concentrations. It is concluded that uncontrolled amounts of milk should be fed only to breast-fed infants and those receiving adapted formulas but not to those fed formulas that provide high calorie or protein concentrations.