• Home

'Protein enriched milk is best alternative to breast milk'

DUBAI — Mothers across the GCC states who are unable to breast feed their children, can now depend on protein enriched formula milk as the best alternative instead of resorting to cow milk and juices, claim medical professionals citing developments in the fields of baby foods and nutrition.

"The developments are of great importance to mothers across the GCC who are not able to breast feed. I would also like to add that cow milk is not designed for infants that are less than one year of age and it might cause several defects for the babies. Our goal is the baby and insuring his/her health and nutrients. Recently formulas that with increased levels of alpha-lactabumin have been developed. Human milk has high levels of alpha-lactabumin and it may play an important role in infant nutrition," Dr Jane Dickinson Carver of the College of Medicine Department of Paediatrics, University of South Florida, told the Khaleej Times on the sidelines of a lecture.

"The product is a supplement and is not better than breast milk. The priority is for breast milk but several women can not breast feed then it is the next best thing you can offer."

However, some infants are fed formula instead of breast milk and it is important that formulas be healthy alternative to breast milk," said Dr Carver, who has impressive credentials as a PhD, MS and MPH.

According to Dr John Charles Wallingford, Vice-President, Government Affairs Liaison and Market Compliance, Wyeth Nutrition, Cow milk and other juices are not recommended as a supplement for breast milk for infants and may cause several deficiencies.