WHEY DEIONIZATION METHOD OF INFANT FORMULA AFFECTS PLASMA-LIPIDS

Background: Casein has proved to be hypercholesterolemic. According to results of previous studies, the casein-to-whey ratio in infant formu la influences plasma lipid profile. This study explored whether differ ent methods of whey deionization also affect levels of plasma lipids. Methods: Two types of a whey-predominant (whey 60%:casein 40%) formula which differed only in the methods used for whey deionization (ultraf iltration or electrodialysis), were fed to healthy newborn infants for 60 days, using a prospective, double-blind, randomized design. Formul as were otherwise identical in composition. Results: Groups were simil ar in gestational age, gender, birth weight, and growth parameters. Ev aluation of fasting plasma levels after 60 days revealed significantly higher values of total cholesterol (p < 0.001) and low-density lipopr otein cholesterol (p < 0.001) in infants fed ultrafiltrated whey compa red with the same values in infants fed electrodialyzed whey. Plasma l evels in the two groups of very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, h igh-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides revealed no sta tistically significant differences. Conclusions: Plasma lipid profile in infancy is influenced by dietary protein, not only by the casein-to -whey ratio, but also by the method of whey deionization. (C) 1997 Lip pincott-Raven Publishers.