BONE MINERAL CONTENT (BMC) AND SERUM VITAMIN D CONCENTRATIONS OF INFANTS FED PARTIALLY HYDROLYZED INFANT FORMULAS

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to compare the bone status of healthy, term infants fed partially hydrolyzed whey formulas during the first 3 mo of life. Between 0‐8 d of age, 89 infants were randomized to Good Start Supreme® (GSS) or an experimental whey‐based formula (EF) to 84 d of age. BMC was assessed < 14 d and at 84 d of age. Blood biochemistries (serum Ca, P, skeletal alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone and 25‐OH Vit D) were assessed at 56 d of age. BMC was similar at 0‐14 d. EF infants had significantly greater BMC than GSS infants at 84 d (mean+SEM) (117.2+4.5 g vs 110.8+4.4 g, respectively, p=0.0407). There were no differences in blood biochemistries between groups except EF infants had significantly higher serum 25‐OH Vit D levels than those fed GSS (31.0+0.9 vs 27.2+0.7 ng/mL, respectively, p=0.0010, Effect Size=0.76). The average serum Vit D level in the EF group was greater than the levels of 76% of the GSS group. 97% of all infants had Vit D levels >21 ng/mL. Ca and P content of GSS (542 mg Ca/L, 315 mg P/L) was lower than that of EF (869 mg Ca/L, 556 mg P/L) and likely resulted in the BMC differences observed. Vit D intakes appeared similar as Vit D contents of 2 batches of GSS were 518 and 538 IU/L, EF was 541 IU/L. The absence of palm olein oil in EF is one possible factor that may have contributed to improved Vit D bioavailability and status. (Supported by Abbott Nutrition, Abbott Laboratories)