Abstract
Cow’s milk and dairy are commonly consumed foods in the human diet and contribute to maintaining a healthy nutritional state, providing unique sources of energy, calcium, protein, and vitamins, especially during early childhood. Milk formula is usually made from cow’s milk and represents the first food introduced into an infant’s diet when breastfeeding is either not possible or insufficient to cover nutritional needs. Very recently, increased awareness of cow’s milk protein allergy and intolerance, and higher preference to vegan dietary habits have influenced parents towards frequently choosing cows’ milk substitutes for children, comprising other mammalian milk types and plant-based milk beverages. However, many of these milk alternatives do not necessarily address the nutritional requirements of infants and children. There is a strong need to promote awareness about qualitative and quantitative nutritional compositions of different milk formulas, in order to guide parents and medical providers selecting the best option for children. In this article, we sought to review the different compositions in terms of macronutrients and micronutrients of milk from different mammalian species, including special milk formulas indicated for cow’s milk allergy, and of plant-based milk alternatives.
Highlights
Cow’s milk (CM) and dairy products represent basic foods for human nutrition and development, being unique sources of energy, nutrients, calcium, proteins, and vitamins
We sought to review the different compositions in terms of macronutrients and micronutrients of milk from different mammalian species, including special milk formulas indicated for cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA), and of plant-based milk alternatives
extensively hydrolyzed CM formula (EHF) are recommended as the formulas of choice for the treatment of CMPA in the vast majority of cases [11,12,13]
Summary
Cow’s milk (CM) and dairy products represent basic foods for human nutrition and development, being unique sources of energy, nutrients, calcium, proteins, and vitamins. Very recently, increased awareness of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) and intolerance, and higher prevalence of vegan dietary habits have influenced parents towards frequently choosing cows’ milk substitutes for children, comprising other mammalian milk alternatives and plant-based milk beverages [2] Many of these milk alternatives do not necessarily address the nutritional requirements of infants and children. The nutritional composition of milk alternatives to CM has received little attention from scientific research The lack of such information is a critical unmet need, because, these milk alternatives have the potential to contribute to food security, health, and nutrition of a population [1]. These milk alternatives vary in their composition of macro and micronutrients [3]. We sought to review the different compositions in terms of macronutrients and micronutrients of milk from different mammalian species, including special milk formulas indicated for CMPA, and of plant-based milk alternatives
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