3、 How should infant formula foods for special medical purposes be selected?

 

 

 

01 Lactose free formula or low lactose formula

 

Lactose free or low lactose formulas are suitable for infants with primary or secondary lactose intolerance.

 

Due to the fact that lactose is the main component of carbohydrates in milk, newborns and infants may experience congenital lactose intolerance or various other causes (such as diarrhea), leading to a decrease in lactase activity in the infant's intestines and even complete cessation of secretion. As a result, lactose intolerance may occur, and the unhydrolyzed lactose is broken down by bacteria in the large intestine to produce acid and gas, leading to symptoms such as bloating and abdominal pain. This type of product formula should completely or partially replace lactose in regular infant formula with other carbohydrates.

 

 

 

02 Formula for partial hydrolysis of milk protein

 

The partially hydrolyzed formula of milk protein is suitable for high-risk infants with milk protein allergy.

 

High risk infants with allergies refer to infants whose parents or first degree relatives have a history of milk protein allergy, therefore these infants also have a risk of milk protein allergy. The use of partially hydrolyzed milk protein formulas can reduce the likelihood of infants consuming allergen milk protein. This type of food involves heating and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of milk proteins in products to easily digestible small molecule proteins, peptides, and amino acids, in order to reduce the allergenicity of large molecule milk proteins and help establish tolerance and improve digestion rate.

 

 

 

03 Milk protein deep hydrolysis formula or amino acid formula

 

Milk protein deep hydrolysis formula or amino acid formula is suitable for infants with food protein allergy.

 

Food protein allergy is an adverse reaction caused by an inappropriate immune response of infants to protein in food. Milk protein deep hydrolysis formula food hydrolyzes large molecule milk proteins that are prone to allergic reactions into short peptides and free amino acids through certain processes. Amino acid formula foods use monomeric amino acids as the source of protein.

 

 

 

04 Premature/Low Birth Weight Infant Formula

 

Premature/low birth weight infant formula is suitable for premature/low birth weight infants.

 

In clinical practice, infants born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are referred to as premature infants, and infants born with a birth weight below 2500g are referred to as low birth weight infants. There are significant differences in physiological conditions, nutritional needs, and nutrient digestion and absorption between premature/low birth weight infants and term infants. To meet the nutritional needs of catching up with growth, the content of energy, protein, and some vitamins and minerals in premature/low birth weight infant formula should be significantly higher than that in term infant formula.

 

 

 

05 Breast milk nutritional supplements

 

Breast milk nutritional supplements are suitable for premature/low birth weight infants.

 

Breast milk nutritional supplements are liquid or powdered special medical infant formulas specifically designed to supplement the insufficient energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals in the breast milk of premature/low birth weight infants, which need to be added to breast milk for use. Breast milk nutritional supplements are not full nutrient formula foods, but supplements for breastfeeding premature/low birth weight infants. The energy and nutrient content when used with breast milk formula should meet the upper and lower limits of energy and nutrients in premature/low birth weight infant formula.

 

 

 

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Formula for amino acid metabolism disorders

 

The formula for amino acid metabolism disorders is suitable for infants with amino acid metabolism disorders.

 

Amino acid metabolism disorder refers to a condition caused by genetic factors