Soya Formula in Infant Feeding: Clinical Considerations for Use Under Six Months
- 08/04/2022
Video description
Information for Healthcare Professional Use Only
In this short video with Kristian Braven, Specialist Paediatric allergy and gastroenterology dietitian, discusses the caution against using soya formula for infants under six months in cows’ milk allergy.
Highlights include:
- Current guidelines advise against soya formula for children under six months.
- Concerns arise from soy’s phytoestrogens content, potentially affecting fertility in later life.
- Research on this topic remains inconclusive.
- Soya formula may be acceptable if other milks are intolerable.
- Soya formula can be considered for specific conditions like galactosemia
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
We believe that breastfeeding is the ideal nutritional start for babies and we fully support the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life followed by the introduction of adequate nutritious complementary foods along with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age.
We also recognise that breastfeeding may not be an option due to certain medical conditions. Parents should only feed infant formula for special medical purposes under supervision of a healthcare professional after full consideration of all feeding options, including breastfeeding. Continued use has to be assessed by the healthcare professional in relation to the baby's progress bearing in mind any social and financial implications for the family. Infant formula should always be prepared, used and stored as instructed on the label in order to avoid risks to a baby’s health.
Kristian Bravin, MSc
Specialist Paediatric allergy and gastroenterology
Dietitian at University Hospital Leicester