Abstract
Carbohydrate may be added to dried cows milk to reduce the concentration of protein and minerals to levels nearer those in human milk. The carbohydrate used varies. In other circumstances the quality of dietary carbohydrate is known to affect intestinal tolerance, deposition of body fat (in rats) and concentrations of plasma lipids (in men).
Therefore, the effects of an added lactose formula and an added sucrose one have been studied in 29 low birth weight babies during the first 3 months of life. The “added lactose” group experienced more diarrhoea (5 had to be withdrawn from the trial because of diarrhoea of 1 of the “added sucrose” group) and a greater degree of metabolic acidosis during the first week of life (base excess - mean ± SD at 7 days = added lactose, -7 ± 4, added sucrose -3 ± 4 p < 0.05). The “added sucrose” group did not become fatter nor were their concentrations of plasma lipids higher than in the “added lactose” group, (result at 3 months, in added lactose group first, added sucrose group second mean ± SD): Total skin fold thickness 10.9 ± 2.6, 8.7±2.2mm, p<0.03. Serum cholesterol 164 ± 48, 160±27, mg per 100 ml, NS. Serum triglyceride 109±39, 68±35, mg per 100 ml p<0.02.
Despite the teleological arguments in favour of lactose we found no objective contra indications to the use of added sucrose cows milk formulae in nutrition of low birth weight babies
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Wharton, B., Fosbrooke, A. “Added lactose” and “added sucrose” cows milk formulae in neonatal nutrition. Pediatr Res 8, 918 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197411000-00109
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197411000-00109