Active Low-Carber Forums - NAS Recommends Daily Intake of Fatty Acids for Infants

Press Release Source: Mead Johnson Nutritionals

New Dietary Recommendations For Infants
National Academy of Sciences Recommends Daily Intake of Fatty Acids
Tuesday September 24, 4:45 pm ET

EVANSVILLE, Ind., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, the National Academies' Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recommended a daily intake of specific polyunsaturated fatty acids for infants for the U.S. and Canada. One of these fatty acids - known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) - was called out in the new IOM report for its beneficial role in supporting brain and retina development in infants.

Found naturally in breast milk, DHA, along with another polyunsaturated fatty acid called ARA (arachidonic acid), are important building blocks of a baby's brain and eyes. Only one term infant formula in the United States - Enfamil® LIPIL® with Iron - contains DHA and ARA at levels clinically shown to benefit mental and visual development when compared to the same formula without these fatty acids. LIPIL is Enfamil's unique blend of DHA and ARA.

"This really is a landmark report that provides important guidelines for fatty acids in an infant's diet," said Dr. Jon Vanderhoof, VP of Global Medical Affairs for Mead Johnson Nutritionals. "There is an accumulated body of scientific and clinical evidence over the past 15 years that has lead us to firmly believe that DHA and ARA are critical to the growth and development of infants. We are committed to helping infants get off to the right start nutritionally which is why we introduced Enfamil LIPIL with Iron, Enfamil Premature LIPIL and Enfamil EnfaCare® LIPIL. These new recommendations further support the importance of these fatty acids in an infant's diet."

A Boost for Babies

Throughout pregnancy, a growing baby will receive DHA and ARA from the mother, particularly during the last trimester when there is significant brain growth. A mother also provides these nutrients to her baby in breast milk. But until Enfamil LIPIL was first introduced this year, there had never been an infant formula in the United States that contained DHA and ARA - two nutrients that just received even greater prominence with the release of the new IOM report.

While several expert panels convened by international organizations such as the World Health Organization and Child Health Foundation have recommended the addition of DHA and ARA to infant formula if infants do not breastfeed, this is the first time that the Institute of Medicine has established recommendations for these types of fatty acids for the U.S. and Canada.

The new "Adequate Intake" recommendations for infants are based on the amount of the fatty acids found naturally in breast milk. The fatty acid levels in Enfamil LIPIL are comparable to the mid-range of global averages found in breast milk.

Breast is Best

"Breastfeeding is unequivocally the best form of nutrition for infants," said Dr. Alan Greene, MD, FAAP, a practicing pediatrician and attending physician at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University and spokesperson for Mead Johnson & Company. "However, most infants in the U.S. are fed some infant formula within the first year, so the type of infant formula selected is critically important." He added that the goal for infant formula is to match as closely as possible the composition of human breast milk, and Enfamil LIPIL comes closer than ever before because it's enriched with DHA and ARA.

Breast milk in the U.S. tends to be lower in DHA because our diets are often low in good DHA sources like fatty fish. A breastfeeding mom can help increase levels of DHA in her breast milk by consuming eggs and fish like salmon, tuna and sardines, or by taking DHA dietary supplements.

"There is a growing body of evidence that clearly points to the visual and mental development benefits of DHA and ARA at the levels contained in Enfamil LIPIL," said Dr. Greene. "As the data continue to build, other medical and public health organizations will hopefully follow the IOM's lead and issue recommendations regarding infant intake of these important nutrients."

Enfamil LIPIL infant formula is manufactured by Mead Johnson Nutritionals, a world leader in nutrition, recognized for developing and marketing high quality products that meet the nutritional needs of children and adults of all ages. Mead Johnson Nutritionals is a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

For more information on DHA or ARA and the potential benefits of Enfamil LIPIL, parents can visit www.enfamil.com , call 1-800-BABY-123, or talk with your health care professional.

Source: Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein and Amino Acids. www.nationalacademies.org.

Source: Mead Johnson Nutritionals

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