Protein quality in early infancy and long-term health outcomes

Nutrition in early life plays vital role in development of metabolic diseases in adulthood, especially obesity and its complications. Conventional infant formulas having protein supply of 55-80% as compared to breastfed infants could enhance early weight gain and later obesity risk. An improved amino acid profile along with a recommended protein quantity of 1.8 g protein per 100 kcal enables whey predominant starter formula to meet requirement of normal term infants during the first four months of life. Therefore infant formulae with reduced protein contents, high protein quality and the whey-predominant are recommended in infants who are not completely breastfed.