High aluminum content in Pediatric Soy Protein Formula

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>Austr alian Pediatric Soy Protein Formula Policy

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>http://www.mercola.com/2001/sep/22/soy_protein_formula_policy.htm -

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>Australian Pediatric Soy Protein Formula Policy

>Policy Statement of Royal College of Australian Physicians

>The lack of a suitable diagnostic test for food intolerance has allowed for

>an exaggeration of the incidence and a tendency for over-diagnosis. The true

>incidence of milk intolerance in our community is difficult to ascertain but

>a reasonable working figure would be 2.0% (1).

>The number of infants on soy formula outweighs this figure as soy formula

>accounts for approximately 10% of formula sales in Australia.

>There is no evidence that soy formulas are nutritionally better than cow's

>milk formula for normal infants. The assumption that symptomatic infants who

>improve on soy formula are therefore intolerant of milk protein is addressed

>in this statement (2).

>There are several well-characterized disorders caused by cow's milk protein

>intolerance (CMPI), including cow's milk allergy, cow's milk enteropathy and

>cow's milk colitis. There is also a range of vague signs and symptoms

>ascribed to CMPI, which includes excessive crying, vomiting, wind, colic,

>vague ill health, and tension-fatigue syndrome (3).

>With the latter symptoms, there is usually no evidence of associated chronic

>diarrhea or growth failure. Of concern, is that many of these latter

>symptoms may be the result of parent-child relationship problems, which are

>inappropriate to treat with soy formula. Controlled trials of cow's milk and

>soy formulae in colicky infants have not demonstrated a benefit from soy

>formula (4).

>The rationale for the use of soy formula is the assumption that soy protein

>is less antigenic than cow's milk protein and thus should be used in the

>treatment of CMPI, or prophylactically in patients at high risk for

>developing CMPI.

>Soy protein can cause intolerance reactions with gastrointestinal symptoms

>as well as acute anaphylaxis and up to 40% of infants intolerant of cow's

>milk also develop soy protein intolerance (6).

>Studies show that feeding soy formulae from birth in infants at increased

>risk of developing allergy, does not have a beneficial effect (7-9). Eastham

>et al, in a prospective feeding trial, showed soy protein to be at least as

>antigenic as cow's milk protein (8).

>Miskelly et al, in a randomized clinical trial of cow's milk vs soy protein

>formulae in children with family histories of atopic disease, demonstrated a

>similar incidence of wheezing and eczema between the groups and an increased

>incidence of napkin rash, diarrhea and oral thrush in the group fed soy

>formula (9).

>Thus, it seems that soy formula is inappropriate even in cases of proven

>CMPI, because of its ability to cause reactions. In cases of true

>gastrointestinal CMPI, the use of protein which has been hydrolyzed to the

>point that it is no longer antigenic, is preferred.

>Soy protein contains only one-third of available nitrogen as essential or

>semi-essential amino acids (10) and therefore has a lower biological value

>than milk protein.

>Soy may cause loss from the gut of vitamins, minerals and trace elements and

>it has been suggested that 10% more calories are needed in soy preparations

>in order to promote equivalent growth to infants breastfed or fed a milk

>formula (11). Low levels of chloride have been reported and may result in

>serious hypochloraemic alkalosis in infants fed soy formula (12).

>Manufacturers currently attempt to compensate for these potential problems

>by adding extra protein, trace elements and chloride to soy formulae. Growth

>of infants fed soy formulae is similar to that of infants fed formulae based

>on cow's milk protein but there is concern about poorer bone mineralization

>in infants fed soy formulae (13).

>The carbohydrate content of soy formula differs in each of the three

>commonly available preparations (Isomil: sucrose 36%, corn syrup solids 64%;

>Prosobee: maltodextrins 100%; Infasoy: sucrose 25%, corn syrup solids 75%).

>Sucrose is not the preferred carbohydrate in infancy because of its

>potential effect on teeth and development of inappropriate eating habits.

>High aluminum content has also been documented in soy formula (14).

>Soy is also a rich source of phytoestrogens (nonsteroidal estrogens of the

>isoflavone class). It is unclear whether these are beneficial (protect

>against breast and prostate cancer) or harmful (result in infertility and

>liver disease) (15).

>It is also possible that soy formula impairs immunity. Infants fed soy

>formula had lower levels of antibodies in response to routine immunizations

>and more infections than those fed human milk or cow's milk formula (16).

>Policy Statement of Royal College of Australian Physicians

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>DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

>It is great to find a major professional organization come down so strongly

>against soy formula. Perhaps soon the rest of the sleeping medical community

>will wake up on this issue.

>As I said last year:

>Soy formula is one of the worst foods that you could feed your child. Not

>only does it have profoundly adverse hormonal effects as discussed above,

>but it also has over 1000% more aluminum than conventional milk based

>formulas.

>I don't recommend either, but if one, for whatever reason, cannot breast

>feed, then Carnation Good Start until six months and Carnation Follow-Up

>after that seem to be the best commercial formula currently available,

>although it may not contain taurine, in which case it should be added.

>The milk protein is hydrolyzed 80% which tends to significantly decrease its

>allergenicity. It is also important to note that when breast feeding it is

>wise to avoid drinking milk as it has been shown for several decades that

>the milk will pass directly into the breast milk which can cause potential

>problems in the infant.

>Taurine is a " conditionally essential " amino acid and not present in

>sufficient quantities in most formulas. It would also be wise to split a 500

>mg Taurine capsule into 7 parts and add one part a day to the formula so the

>total daily dose will be about 75 mg.

>It would also be wise to add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cod liver oil a day to

>the babies diet even if being breast fed as the vitamin D and fatty acid DHA

>are incredibly important essential nutrients that are frequently lacking in

>an infant's diet.

>Related Articles:

>Soy Formulas and the Effects of Isoflavones on the Thyroid

>How Safe is Soy Infant Formula?

>Soy Formula Exposes Infants to High Hormone Levels

>References

>1. Jacobsson I, Lindberg T. A prospective study of cow's milk protein

>intolerance in Swedish infants. Acta Paediatr Scand 1979; 68:853.

>2. Editorial. How necessary are elimination diets in childhood? BMJ 1980;

>1:138.

>3. Tait LS. Soy feeding in infancy. Arch Dis Child 1982; 57:814-15.

>4. Lothe L, Lindberg T, Jakobsson I. Cow's milk formula as a cause of

>infantile colic: a double-blind study. Pediatrics 1982; 70:7-10.

>5. Taubman B. Parental counseling compared with eliminating of cow's milk or

>soy milk protein for the treatment of infant colic syndrome: a randomised

>trial. Pediatrics 1988; 81:756-61.

>6. Hill DJ, Ford RPK, Shelton MJ, et al. A study of 100 infants and young

>children with cow's milk allergy. Clin Rev Allergy 1984; 2:125-42.

>7. Gruskay FL. Comparison of breast, cow and soy feedings in the prevention

>of onset of allergic disease. Clin Paediatr 1982; 21:486-91.

>8. Eastham EJ, Lichauco T, Grady MI, et al. Antigenicity of infant formulas:

>role of immature intestine on protein permeability. J Pediatr 1978;

>93:561-4.

>9. Miskelly FG, Burr MC, Vaughan-Williams E, et al. Infant feeding and

>allergy. Arch Dis Child 1988; 63:388-93.

>10. Graham GC, Placko RP, Moralk E, et al. Dietary protein quality in

>infants and children. Am J Dis Child 1970; 120:419-23.

>11. Avery GB, Fletcher AB. Nutrition: In: Avery GB (ed). Neonatology.

>Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp1002-60.

>12. Linshaw MA, Harrison HL, Groskin AB, et al. Hypochloraemic alkalosis in

>infants associated with soy protein formula. J Pediatr 1980; 96:635-40.

>13. Steichen JJ, Tsang RC. Bone mineralisation and growth in term infants

>fed soy-based or cow milk-based formula. J Pediatr 1987; 110:687-92.

>14. Simmer K, Fudge A, Teubner G, et al. Aluminium concentrations in infant

>formulae. J Paediatr Child Health 1990; 26:9-11.

>15. Essex C. Phytoestrogens and soy based infant formula. BMJ 1996;

>313:507-8.

>16. Zoppi G, Gasparini R, Mantovanelli F, et al. Diet and antibody response

>to vaccinations in healthy infants. Lancet 1983; ii:11-13.

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