Fwd: High aluminum content in Pediatric Soy Protein Formula

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" Elaine "

Mon, 3 Mar 2003 13:43:48 -0800

High aluminum content in Pediatric Soy Protein

Formula

 

Australian Pediatric Soy Protein Formula Policy 9/22/01-

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

 

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

 

 

 

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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