Comparison of an adapted milk with whole cows milk
Hardy, M.; Lines, D.R.; King, P.
New Zealand Medical Journal 90(643): 188-191
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-8446 PMID: 292853 Document Number: 154214
Infants born in a New Zealand hospital in December 1971 and January 1972 whose mothers had decided to bottle feed them were given the proprietory modified milk feed SMA or homogenized milk:water 1:1 for the first 24 h of life and 2:1 afterwards, each as the only feed to at least 5 months old. Of the 54 newborn infants of each group, only 7 had occult blood in faeces. Of the 28 to 42 of each group and each of the ages 3, 6 and 10.5 months, 10 to 21% of those given SMA and 29 to 58% of those given homogenized milk had occult blood in faeces. Mean Hb estimated in the 1st week and at 3, 6, 10.5 and 15 months old was the same for each group at all ages. Five of the infants given homogenized milk became anaemic with Hb under 100 g/litre, 4 of those had signs of blood loss in faeces, and none of the SMA group was anaemic. Serum cholesterol was significantly more for infants given homogenized milk than for those given SMA at 3 and 6 months old but not at 10.5 or 15 months; serum triglycerides were not significantly different between groups at any of those ages. Increments in bodyweight, length and head circumference between birth and 3, 6 or 15 months old, or between 3 and 6 months, were about the same in each group. At 15 months old the mean blood pressures were with SMA 95/63 mm Hg and with homogenized milk 93/58 mm Hg; and the mean developmental scores were 3.85 and 3.77 points on a 5-point scale from the Denver Test. When the children began school at 5 years old there was no significant difference between groups in bodyweight, height or blood pressure. Mean fasting serum cholesterol was 2.3 mmol/litre with SMA and 2.7 with homogenized milk, and that difference approached significance; it became significant if only the 6 and 9 children of those groups who were in social class 3 were considered. Those children and others from a similar study (see ref. below) will be seen again in adolescence if possible.