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Effects of cow milk versus extensive protein hydrolysate formulas on infant cognitive development

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Abstract

Little research has focused on infant developmental effects, other than growth, of formulas that differ substantially in the form of protein. To examine development of infants fed formulas differing in free amino acid content, we randomized 0.5-month-old infants (n = 79) to either a control group who fed only cow milk formula (CMF) during the first 8 months (CMF8), or to one of two experimental groups: one experimental group fed extensively protein hydrolyzed formula (EHF) for 1–3 months during first 4.5 months (EHF1-3) of life, and the other fed EHF for 8 months (EHF8). The Mullen Scales of Early Learning were administered monthly from 1.5 to 8.5 months to assess fine (FM) and gross (GM) motor control, receptive (RL) and expressive (EL) language, visual reception (VR), and an early learning composite (ELC). Across the 5.5–8.5-month time period, when compared to CMF8 infants, GM scores in EHF1-3 infants averaged 1.5 points higher (95 % CI 0.1, 3.0) and in EHF8 infants 2.2 points higher (95 % CI 0.3, 4.0). Similarly, VR scores averaged 1.9 points higher (95 % CI 0.1, 3.8) in EHF1-3 infants and 2.2 points higher (95 % CI −0.2, 4.5) in EHF8 infants. EHF8 infants’ RL scores averaged 1.8 points lower (95 % CI 0.1, 3.6) than CMF8 infants. These data suggest that the form of protein in infant formula may impact cognitive development and that the higher free amino acid content in breast milk may be a contributing factor to the differential cognitive development between breastfed and CMF-fed infants.

Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT00994747.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the expert technical assistance of Sara Castor, Laura Lukasewycz Overton, and Susana Finkbeiner. This research was supported by grants R01HD37119 and R01HD072307 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or the National Institutes of Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-3308, USA

    Julie A. Mennella

  2. Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware, 015 Carpenter Sports Building, 26 North College Avenue, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Jillian C. Trabulsi & Mia A. Papas

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  1. Julie A. Mennella
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Correspondence to Julie A. Mennella.

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Mennella, J.A., Trabulsi, J.C. & Papas, M.A. Effects of cow milk versus extensive protein hydrolysate formulas on infant cognitive development. Amino Acids 48, 697–705 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-015-2118-7

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