Formula versus whole milk?


August 16, 2016

After the child turns one, parents often face another dilemma as they decide over the type of milk they choose to give their growing child. Parents may have different reasons for choosing formula milk over whole milk (non-reduced-fat milk). Just what exactly sets formula milk apart from other milk? Should parents feel they are taking a risk of raising a less healthy child or denying their child of a “head start” as they transit their child to whole milk?

In order to put this discussion in good order, it is first important to discuss the nutrients that are more necessary to supplement than the others. For ease of discussion, we shall examine the nutrient needs of children 3 years and above. After that, we will examine the nutrient content in formula milk and cow’s milk. The formula milk we used for comparison are those marketed for 3 years onwards.

We came across the “Top 6 Vitamins and Minerals for Kids” in WebMD that stand out as critical for growing children.
1. Vitamin A is required for healthy skin, eyes, immunity, bone and tissue repair, it is also vital for normal growth and development. Foods rich in Vitamin A are: Whole milk, cheese, eggs and yellow-to orange vegetables (carrots and pumpkins).
2. The family of Vitamin Bs is required for a healthy circulatory and nervous system, it also helps with metabolism and energy production. It is found commonly in a huge variety of foods such as chicken, fish, meat, eggs, nuts, milk, cheese and beans including soy beans.
3. Vitamin C is essential for healthy skin, connective tissues and muscles. Good natural sources of vitamin C include green vegetables, citrus fruits, kiwis, strawberries and tomatoes.
4. Vitamin D promotes formation of strong bones and teeth as it helps the body in the absorption of calcium. Children older than 1 needs 600 IU of Vitamin D a day. Rich sources include fatty fish like salmon or mackerel.
5. Calcium is required for strong bones. A 3 year old child needs 700 mg of calcium a day, therefore a calcium-rich diet of milk, cheese, yogurt or tofu is essential at this stage.
6. The body requires Iron to build muscles and produce healthy red blood cells. Good sources include red meat, pork, spinach, beans and prunes.
Bottom line: If your child eats these varieties of foods regularly, supplementation, whether with formula milk or supplements, is probably not necessary. However, Vitamin D supplementation may be more needful than thought especially in children who do not receive adequate exposure to sunlight. The recommended daily intake is also rather high – 600 IU (According to the National Institute of Health).

 

Common nutrients in formula milk
Most formula milk contains the essential fatty acids (EPA and DHA), prebiotics, taurine, choline, iron, selenium, Vitamin A, Bs and D, calcium and phosphorus. A top-selling brand also markets its exclusive Lutein content. So this is the question of importance: Is your child consuming those varieties of foods as mentioned above? If they are, they probably do not need formula milk supplementation.

 

EPA and DHA for brain and eye development
According to the American Pregnancy Association, the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids, children ages 1 1/2 to 15 years should get 15 milligrams of DHA plus EPA for each pound (0.45kg) of their body weight daily, which is 600 milligrams of combined DHA plus EPA per day for a 40-pound (18kg) child.” An average 3 year old will weigh around 15 kg and therefore he or she will require around 500 mg of combined EPA/DHA. In the 3 formula milk examined, a 100 ml portion is said to contain 4 mg to 22 mg of DHA, most do not contain EPA. Non-fortified cow’s milk do not contain essential fatty acids.

Bottom line: If you are after the DHA/EPA content in formula milk, it is not the richest source to meet the suggested amount for daily consumption.

 

Protein content in formula milk ranges from 2.6 mg to 3 mg. Cow’s milk contains 3.9 mg.

Bottom line: Cow’s milk contains a higher protein content than formula milk.

 

Calcium content ranges from 120 mg to 149 mg in formula milk. Cow’s milk averages an amount of 138 mg.

Bottom line: Cow’s milk offers a comparable calcium content to formula milk.

 

Vitamin D content in formula milk ranges from 35.2 IU to 40 IU. Cow’s milk yields 49 IU.

Bottom line: Cow’s milk contains more Vitamin D than formula milk, but more is required to meet the 600 IU recommended by the National Institute of Health.

 

What about the rest of the nutrients found commonly in formula milk?
1) Taurine is a building block of protein. Referred to as a “conditional amino acid”, this means it can be manufactured by the body. Taurine is found in large amounts in platelets, brain, retina and heart. So what does the experts say about the necessity of Taurine supplementation? Since it is manufactured by the body, people who, because of some medical conditions, are unable to make taurine, must and will be informed by medical professionals to get the taurine they need from diet and supplements. Infants do not have a mature system to develop taurine and in infants who are not breast-fed, supplementation is necessary. Taurine is often added to infant milk formula for this reason and cow’s milk does not provide enough taurine. The best food sources are meat and fish.
2) Phosphorus can be obtained from milk, other protein-rich foods and grains. Supplementation is unnecessary because you can get plenty of phosphorus in the diet. Individuals with medical conditions like diabetes, starvation, alcoholism, Crohn’s and celiac disease can have very low levels of phosphorus.
3) Galacto-oligosaccharides or GOS, a carbohydrate prebiotic added in formula milk for a healthy digestive system. Different milk formulas may contain a different prebiotic from GOS. Prebiotics come in unique combinations and formula milk companies often market their prebiotic combinations as patent blends. Most of the research we found concludes insufficient evidence to support the consumption of prebiotics on a daily basis for any clinical benefits.

 
Whether it is formula milk or whole milk that you are choosing for your child, we do hope that we managed to shed some light on the nutritional content in both and when you should decide for supplementation to come in. Make your choice informed.





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