Meat-Based Diets Contribute to Improved Growth in Infants
A recent article in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition* demonstrated that protein from animal products was superior to milk-based formula with respect to weight gain and fat deposition in infants.
The study compared two groups of 32 infants with respect to development scores based on weight-for-age and length-for-age. The subjects were fed either milk-based or meat-based supplements. Over a 12-month period, subjects receiving protein from meat products showed an improved length-for-age z score and a weight-for-length z score. Insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 increased over time independently of treatments.
It was concluded that the source of protein plays an important role in determining growth and fat deposition. The trial was conducted with meat-based protein. The ideal amino acid composition of eggs suggests that a similar trial would demonstrate the benefits of egg-based protein in infant formulas to promote growth.
*Tang, M. et al A meat-or dairy-based complementary diet leads to distinct growth patterns in formula-fed infants: A randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 107: 734-742 (2018
To view the article. http://egg-news.com/editorial.aspx
