Effects of soy formulas on mineral metabolism in term infants
G. M. Chan, L. Leeper and L. S. Book
We studied 40 healthy term infants who received a soy-based formula
containing either a single carbohydrate (glucose polymers) or dual
carbohydrates (glucose polymers and sucrose). Ten exclusively breast-fed
infants served as controls for the first four months of the study. All
infants were studied at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 4 months of age for
anthropometric development, biochemical values, and bone mineral content.
There were no differences among the three groups in weight, length, or head
circumference gains. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium,
copper, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, and alkaline phosphatase were also
similar. However, at 4 months of age, the breast-fed group had a higher
plasma zinc level than both formula-fed groups, and at 2 and 4 months of
age, it had higher bone mineral content and bone density.
