Technical words on formula labels

Find out what all those odd words mean

LCPs are Long Chain Polyunsaturated fats. Or better they are very long chain polyunsaturates. On practical terms where are two of these, one called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA for short), the other arachidonic acid (ARA for short). If you are familiar with the terms, the first is an Omega-3 and the second an Omega-6 fat. DHA is accepted as being important for the development of body cells especially that of the brain, and ARA may be needed at the same time. Human milk contains LCPs but until recently infant formulas did not. For more details look here.

Gold is a term which is being applied to well-known formulas which have LCPs added.

Nucleotides form part of the cell's multiplication system, being integral parts of DNA. There are nucleotides in cow's milk and thus in traditional formulas, but the balance is quite different from those in human milk. To learn more look here.

Whey-dominant formulas are those where the balance of the two main types of protein in cow's milk, casein and whey, has been changed so that there is consdierably more whey than casein. Casein is the rather rubbery protein: "curds": which is made into cheese. In cheese making the milky fluid which separates contains mainly the other protein, whey. In ordinary milk the proportion are 80% casein and 20% whey. Casein is rather more difficult for baby's digestion to deal with, and also the balance of aminoacids isn't quite right for babies. By changing the ratio to 60% whey and 40% casein we get a suitable balance of aminoacids and a rather more digestible material. Almost all starter formulas today are whey-dominant.

Soy formula. The protein used to make infant formula doesn't have to be from cow's milk. Goat's milk is sometimes used [see below], but many other suitable proteins have been used. In Australasia the only other one available contains soy protein. This is useful if an allergy to cow's milk protein develops, although allergies to soy protein can also develop. Some people have philosophical objections to the use of animal proteins and this provides an alternative. Soy protein's aminoacid balance isn't right so we have to add a specific one [methionine] to correct this. Methionine does produce an odd taste but babies seem to accept soy formula well when they need it.

Hydrolysed protein. If an allergy to milk proteins develops, one way around this is to use protein which has been broken down more or less to its constituent aminoacids by enzyme action. Hydrolysed protein formulas are those usualy recommended in the management of milk allergy in babies.

Goat's milk. Goat's milk can be used as the basis for formula as well. The main difference is that the caseins in goat's milk differ from those in cow's milk, making them perhaps more digestible, and sometimes infants with intolerance to cow's milk can use goat milk formula instead.

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