The ingredient Lacprodan IF-3070 from Arla Foods Ingredients supports healthy growth in infants and may bring the developmental outcomes of formula-fed babies closer to those of breastfed babies. According to Nutrition Insight, this has been confirmed by a clinical study involving newborns.
Clinical study of milk protein
The study compared three groups: children fed standard infant formula, children fed formula supplemented with the hydrolyzed whey protein Lacprodan IF-3070, and breastfed infants.
The study involved 251 infants aged up to 14 days from six hospitals in China. Over a period of six months, they were fed different types of formula.
The results showed that the difference in weight gain between the Lacprodan IF-3070 group and breastfed infants was just 0.4 g per day, whereas for the standard formula it was 1.1 g.
This suggests that infant formulae containing hydrolyzed protein can support growth rates similar to those seen with breastfeeding.
Health benefits for babies
In addition to growth, product tolerability is an important factor. The study showed that formulae containing Lacprodan IF-3070 are well tolerated by infants and do not increase the risk of side effects compared with breastfeeding.
At the same time, significantly more cases of gastrointestinal disturbances, particularly vomiting and refusal to feed, were recorded in the standard formula group.
«Healthy growth is one of the main benefits influencing infant formula purchases and a particular focus in the Chinese market», — says Lotte Neergaard Jacobsen, chief scientist in Early Life Nutrition at Arla Foods Ingredients.
«We have decades of experience in developing high-quality milk protein hydrolysates for infant formulas. We invest heavily in research to ensure the safety and high standards of our ingredients, and we’re delighted that the first clinical study on Lacprodan IF-3070 has confirmed that it supports healthy growth».
The role of hydrolyzed protein
Hydrolyzed milk proteins have been widely used in infant formula since the 1940s, as they help reduce the risk of allergies and improve digestion.
These proteins are ‘pre-digested’, which allows the body to absorb them more quickly and enhances nutritional efficiency.
The ingredient Lacprodan IF-3070 is already authorised for use in China, and in 2024 it received FDA approval for use in infant formula in the US.
Implications for the dairy industry
The findings of the study confirm the important role of innovation in the dairy industry, particularly in the baby food segment.
The growing demand for functional dairy ingredients and products for early childhood development is opening up new opportunities for milk producers and processors.
Source: Nutrition Insight
